XRD and TEM characterizations of the mechanically alloyed CuIn0.5Ga0.5Se2 powders

The CuIn0.5Ga0.5Se2 (CIGS) nanocrystalline powders were prepared by mechanical alloying method. Effect of various milling times and higher milling speed on the structure of CIGS nanoparticles was investigated by X-ray diffraction measurements. The Rietveld method was used to refine the XRD data using the MAUD program. Refinement process reveals that the main phase of the CIGS powders milled for different milling times is of chalcopyrite structure. Milling time dependence of the unit-cell parameters and crystallite size has also been reported. The TEM observations demonstrated that the size of agglomerated CIGS powder is about 140 nm. The EDAX analysis of various grains of the milled powder shows that the compositions vary from one grain to another. However, the global composition was found slightly copper rich.