T(x) phase diagram of the CuSbS₂–CuInS₂ system and solubility limit of Sb in CuInS₂

Abstract

The starting ternary compounds CuInS 2 and CuSbS 2 and alloys of the CuSbS 2 -CuInS 2 system with the molar fractions of CuInS 2 (x) equal to 0. 05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.375, 0.50, 0.625, 0.75, 0.85, and 0.95 were prepared and the phase relations in this system were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and differential thermal analysis. It was shown that the T-x phase diagram of the CuInS 2 -CuSbS 2 system has a eutectic character with the eutectic temperature of 807 K. The alloys of the CuSbS 2 -CuInS 2 system with the molar fraction of CuInS 2 in the range from 0.038 to 0.941 at room temperature are two-phased, and the limits of solubility are 0.059 molar fractions for CuSbS 2 in CuInS 2 and 0.038 molar fractions for CuInS 2 in CuSbS 2 .

Copper—antimony and copper—bismuth chalcogenides—Research opportunities and review for solar photovoltaics

“…Korzun gives the relevant pseudobinary phase diagram. 77 Xiang, in work on Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS), identifies Cu 3 SbSe 3 as an important intermediate. 78 It is used similarly with Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) 79 in which it promotes grain growth, although Sb 2 S 3 is more effective.…”

Heterojunction Engineering of Multinary Metal Sulfide‐Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…However, the synthesis method becomes costly when expensive elements, such as Ag, In, and Ga have to be used. In in CuInS 2 can be replaced by the low‐cost Sb to afford CuSbS 2 TMS semiconductor photocatalyst with a layered crystal structure, [ 319 ] which exhibited a PHE rate of 2.14 mmol g −1 h −1 . [ 320 ] Moreover, the CuSbS 2 ‐based type‐II heterojunction photocatalyst CuSbS 2 /TiO 2 has been successfully designed and applied to photodegradation of rhodamine B.…”

Preparation and Phase Relations in the CuSbSe2– CuInSe2System

“…The limits of solubility from both sides of the system do not exceed 0.05 mole fraction of the corresponding ternary compounds. By contrast, the T-x phase diagram of the CuInS 2 -CuSbS 2 system has a eutectic character with a eutectic temperature of 807 K [5]. The alloys of the CuSbS 2 -CuInS 2 system where the mole fraction of CuInS 2 ranged from 0.038 to 0.941 are biphasic at room temperature, and the limits of solubility are 0.059 mole fraction for CuSbS 2 in CuInS 2 and 0.038 mole fraction for CuInS 2 in CuSbS 2 .…”

“…Chemical elements of the group 15 (As, Sb, Bi) can be used as doping elements; moreover, CuSbS 2 , CuSbSe 2 , CuBiS 2 , and CuBiSe 2 themselves are studied as potential photovoltaic materials [2,3]. Previously, the (CuBiSe 2 ) 1-x ⋅(CuInSe 2 ) x [4] and (CuSbS 2 ) 1-x (CuInS 2 ) x [5] alloys were prepared and the phase relations in these systems above 600 K were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, microstructure studies, and differential thermal analysis. It was established that the T-x phase diagram of the CuInSe 2 -CuBiSe 2 system has a peritectic character with a peritectic temperature of 837 K [4].…”