Solution synthesis of mixed-metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and spray deposition of precursor films
AssigneeMidwest Research Institute
InventorsDouglas L. Schulz, Calvin J. Curtis, David S. Ginley
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Abstract
A colloidal suspension comprising metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and a volatile capping agent. The colloidal suspension is made by reacting a metal salt with a chalcogenide salt in an organic solvent to precipitate a metal chalcogenide, recovering the metal chalcogenide, and admixing the metal chalcogenide with a volatile capping agent. The colloidal suspension is spray deposited onto a substrate to produce a semiconductor precursor film which is substantially free of impurities.
Claims43
A nonaqueous colloidal suspension comprising metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and a volatile capping agent, wherein said metal chalcogenide nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of Cu(In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x)Se.sub.y, where x is 0-1 and y is 1 or 2, CdS, ZnSe, ZnS, ZnTe, PbSe, PbS, and PbTe.
A method for making a nonaqueous colloidal suspension of metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, the method comprising:
- (a) reacting a metal salt with a chalcogenide salt to form the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles under conditions which exclude water, wherein said metal chalcogenide nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of Cu(In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x)Se.sub.y, where x is 0-1 and y is 1 or 2, CdS, ZnSe, ZnS, ZnTe, PbSe, PbS, and PbTe;
- and
- (b) mixing said metal chalcogenide nanoparticles with a volatile capping agent under conditions which exclude water to form the nonaqueous colloidal suspension.
A method for making a nonaqueous colloidal suspension of metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, the method comprising:
- (a) reacting a metal salt with a chalcogenide salt to form the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles under conditions which exclude water;
- and
- (b) mixing said metal chalcogenide nanoparticles with a volatile capping agent under conditions which exclude water to form the nonaqueous colloidal suspension, wherein said volatile capping agent is acetonitrile or pyridine.
A method for making a nonaqueous colloidal suspension of metal chalcogenide nanoparticles, the method comprising:
- (a) reacting a metal salt with a chalcogenide salt in a nonaqueous medium comprising a volatile capping agent under conditions which exclude water to form the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and a soluble byproduct;
- (b) separating the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles from the soluble byproduct;
- and
- (c) mixing the metal chalcogenide nanoparticles with the volatile capping agent under conditions which exclude water to form the nonaqueous colloidal suspension.
A method of forming a film of metal chalcogenide semiconductor material on a surface of a substrate, comprising:
- (a) preparing a nonaqueous colloidal suspension comprising metal chalcogenide nanoparticles and a volatile capping agent under conditions which exclude water, wherein said metal chalcogenide nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of Cu(In.sub.1-x Ga.sub.x)Se.sub.y, where x is 0-1 and y is 1 or 2, CdS, ZnSe, ZnS, ZnTe, PbSe, PbS, and PbTe;
- and
- (b) depositing the colloidal suspension from step (a) onto the surface of the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.