Simple one-pot sonochemical synthesis of copper sulphide nanoparticles for solar cell applications

Abstract

Copper sulphide nanoparticles for solar cell applications were synthesized by a single step sonochemical method using copper acetate and thiourea as precursors. The effects of sonication time, ultrasonic bath temperature and annealing temperature on particle properties were studied. Synthesized particles were characterized using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction spectrophotometer and UV–visible spectrophotometer. The particles were found to be a mixture of chalcocite, covellite and djurleite. The optical band gap of the particles was found to be in the range of 1.6–2.1 eV. Heat treatment of the particles was found to give rise to needle shaped particles while a bath temperature of 55 °C yielded few nanoplates. Keywords: Sonication, Copper sulphides, Nanoparticles, XRD, SEM, TEM