A NON-VACUUM CHEMICAL PROCESS FOR RAPID SYNTHESIS OF NANOSTRUCTURED CIGS POWDERS FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS

摘要

The invention describes a non-vacuum aqueous-based chemical process for synthesizing nano-structured CIGS [Copper Indium Gallium Di-Selenide, {Cu(In,Ga)Se2}] powders and the products thereof for solar photovoltaic applications. By following the process, a variety of CIGS compound with variable levels of gallium and indium atomic ratio in the CIGS compound can rapidly be prepared. The synthesized CIGS powders have tetragonal chalcopyrite structure with specific surface area in the range of 60�10 m2/g. Heat treatment (annealing) of the CIGS powder in any inert atmosphere, e.g., argon or nitrogen at a temperature in the range of 100 -300�C improves the crystallinity of CIGS powder that results well crystalline CIGS powder. Electron microscopy analyses (TEM & Fe-SEM) of the CIGS powder show the nanostructure in the material with primary particles in the range of 10 - 50 nanometers and is suitable for photovoltaic applications for forming light absorption layer either by coating or printing the CIGS material following any standard procedure.