Synthesis of iron pyrite nanocrystals utilizing trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) for photovoltaic devices

Iron pyrite nanocrystals with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) were synthesized and characterized bearing in mind their use for photovoltaic devices. The nanocrystals were characterized by using optical absorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical absorbance spectra exhibit large absorption in the visible and near infrared spectral range. Utilizing the X-ray diffraction, the FeS2 nanocrystals were found to have a face-centered cubic structure by comparing and matching the pattern to a data reference pattern. The SEM and TEM images indicate that the FeS2 nanocrystals exhibit face-centered cubic crystallographic structure.

► Synthesized iron pyrite (FeS2) with and without trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). ► Characterized the phase-pure FeS2 for any defects. ► Compared the FeS2 synthesized with and without TOPO. ► Examined the crystal phases of the material.