Synthesis, characterization and photovoltaic properties of phase pure Cu2SnSe3 nanostructures using molecular precursors

Phase pure Cu2SnSe3 (CTSe) nanostructures have been synthesized using metal selenolates, [Me2Sn{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}(2)] (molecular structure of [Me2Sn{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}(2)] has been established by single crystal X-ray analysis) and [Cu{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}](4) as molecular precursors in oleylamine (OLA) and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The effect of temperature on final composition of nanostructures has also been investigated. Powder X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to investigate the crystal structure, phase purity and homogeneity of the nanostructures while the electron microscopy revealed the morphology of the nanostructures. Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements of CTSe nanostructures showed weak magnetic ordering at low temperature (below 50 K) attributed to the presence of some defect centres in the sample. The CTSe nanostructure possess an optical band gap of 1.7 eV deduced from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and showed photo response which makes them promising candidate for alternative low cost photon absorber material.