CuInS2-based compounds are promising photovoltaic materials because they have high absorption coefficients of ~ 10-5 cm-1 and are direct gap semiconductors with a band gap that is close to optimal for the absorption of solar energy. CuInS2 (CISu) crystallizes in the diamond-like, chalcopyrite structure-type and can be considered as an ordered superstructure of zinc blende. By nature of being diamond-like, a number of possible chemical substitutions can be postulated and a series of solid solutions can be created where the resulting physicochemical properties can be tuned and will depend on the composition and cation ordering of the materials. In this study the expensive and depleting indium metal is replaced with a cheaper, earth-abundant metal and the effects that this has on the structure, optical, electrical and magnetic properties has been carefully studied using an arsenal of characterization techniques including M�ssbauer spectroscopy, neutron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Chemical substitutions for band gap engineering and physical property tuning in CISu-based semiconductors

245th National Meeting (2013)

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