Continuous flow mesofluidic synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticle inks

Copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) nanoparticles were synthesized using ethylene glycol as a solvent via a continuous flow mesofluidic reactor. In this study reaction temperature, residence time, and precursor concentrations were used to control CZTS composition. It was found that CZTS initially forms by the nucleation of Cu2−xS with subsequent incorporation of the remaining metal species as dictated by the cation reactivity, where Cu+>Sn+4>Zn+2. CZTS nanoparticle films annealed in a selenium-containing atmosphere resulted in the formation of copper zinc tin selenide nanoparticles with much larger particle sizes.