Synthesis of CuInxGa1-xSe2 nanocrystals for potential thin film photovoltaic application under air condition

A one-step process has been proposed and used for the preparation of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals. In the proposed method, acetylacetonate salts and Se powder were simply refluxed in triethylenetetramine under air condition for 6 h. The as-prepared CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission election microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and UV–vis spectroscopy. The size distributions of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals were in the ranges of 15–25 nm and could be obtained by adjusting the reaction time and/or the acetylacetonate salts concentrations. The synthesis strategy developed in this work may be used as a general process for the synthesis of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals, and may have great potential to be applied in high efficiency, yet low cost photovoltaic areas.

► A one-step process was proposed for the preparation of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals.
► CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals were prepared by simply reflux under air condition.
► The size distributions of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanocrystals were in the ranges of 15–25 nm.
► The size of the nanocrystals could be tuned by adjusting the reaction conditions.