SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CuInS2 NANOPARTICLES AS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR PHOTOCATALYST AND PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIALS

Nanostructured CuInS2 (CIS) as the absorption layer of solar cells prepared through microwave assisted co-precipitation technique. Obtained dark brown CuInS2 nanoparticles via microwave irradiation by mixture of Cu(SO4)(2). H2O and InCl3 and sulfide sources, such as thioacetamide (TAA), thiourea and l-cysteine, at a 1: 1: 2 molar ratio, propylene glycol used as a solvent. In the process, the affect of sulfide source on the nano particle morphology and photovoltaic solar cell yield were investigated. The properties studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CuInS2 tetragonal shape confirmed with the XRD analysis. The band gap of CuInS2 was 2.2eV. For the solar cell tests, a CdS film deposited on the CIS thin film using the Doctor's blade method. By using methyl orange (MO) the photocatalytic degradation activity examined under the visible light irradiation (lambda > 400 nm).