Synthesis and Characterization of CuIn_2n+1 S_3n+2 (with n = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5) Powders

Naoufel Khemiri, Dhafer Abdelkader, Bilel Khalfallah, Mounir Kanzari

Photovoltaic and Semiconductor Materials Laboratory, Tunis-El Manar University, Tunis, Tunisia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojsta.2013.21003                

Abstract

CuIn_2n+1 S_3n+2 crystals were synthesized by horizontal Bridgman method using high purity copper, indium, sulfur elements. The phases and crystallographic structure of the CuIn_2n+1S_3n+2 crystals were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the composition of the material powders was determined using the energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Measurement data revealed that CuIn_2n+1S_3n+2 materials have not the same structure. In fact, CuInS₂ and CuIn₃S₅ crystallize in the chalcopyrite structure whereas CuIn₅S₈, CuIn₇S₁₁ and CuIn₁₁S₁₇ crystallize in the cubic spinel structure.

 

Keywords

CuIn_2n+1 S_3n+2; Synthesis; Structural Properties

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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