Rapid synthesis of chalcohalides by ball milling: preparation and characterisation of BiSI and BiSeI

Murtaza, S. Z. M. and Vaqueiro, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7545-6262 (2020) Rapid synthesis of chalcohalides by ball milling: preparation and characterisation of BiSI and BiSeI. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 291. 121625. ISSN 0022-4596 doi: 10.1016/j.jssc.2020.121625

Abstract/Summary

Bismuth-containing chalcohalides are currently under consideration for photovoltaic applications and easily-scalable synthetic routes for these materials are needed. The work presented here demonstrates the feasibility of synthesising large quantities of phase-pure chalcohalides by ball milling. This avoids deviations from stoichiometry due to the volatilisation of halides that can occur during high-temperature synthesis. Bulk polycrystalline samples of BiQI (Q = S, Se) were produced by ball milling and characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance and thermogravimetric analysis. Rietveld refinements confirm that phase-pure BiSI and BiSeI were produced. These materials were found to be thermally stable up to 270 - 330 °C, and to exhibit optical band gaps of 1.56 and 1.26 eV for BiSI and BiSeI respectively. Preliminary results on the preparation of films by spin-coating slurries of the ball milled powders are also presented.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/91976
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.jssc.2020.121625
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Energy Research Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > Thermal Analysis (CAF) Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > Xray (CAF) Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > Electron Microscopy Laboratory (CAF)
Uncontrolled Keywords	chalcohalides; photovoltaic; solar cells; mechanochemical synthesis
Publisher	Elsevier
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