Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties of Quinary Wurtzite Copper-Based Chalcogenide Cu ₃ MInSnS ₆ (M = Cd, Co and Ni) Nanocrystals

Quinary wurtzite copper-based chalcogenide, Cu 3 MInSnS 6 (M [Formula: see text] Cd, Co, Ni), nanocrystals (NCs) have been synthesized using a hot-injection method. The NCs were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and absorption spectroscopy. The NCs exhibit strong absorption across the visible spectrum with bandgaps ranging from 1.44[Formula: see text]eV to 1.54[Formula: see text]eV, ideal for thin-film solar cell applications. Photoresponse measurements demonstrate that the current under illumination is enhanced compared to the dark current in all thin-film samples fabricated from these NCs. Among the tested samples, the Cu 3 CdInSnS 6 -based film displayed the highest [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] ratio. A prototype solar cell fabricated with Cu 3 CdInSnS 6 NCs achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.73%. This work broadens the exploration of quinary copper-based chalcogenides for photovoltaic (PV) applications and offers insights that assist in the development of new solar cell absorbers.