Cu₂ZnSnS(4x)Se(4(1-x)) solar cells from polar nanocrystal inks

A facile ligand exchange method for dispersing Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals (NCs) in environmentally benign polar solvents, such as ethanol or n-propanol, at high concentrations (up to 200 mg/mL) is demonstrated. This approach has been applied to CZTS nanocrystals synthesized via scalable, noninjection methods to formulate colloidally stable inks that are suitable for the solution processing of solar cell devices. Unlike other inks currently used to fabricate NC solar cells, the CZTS nanocrystal ink developed here circumvents the need for hydrazine, pyridine, or thiol coordinating solvents. By combining our polar CZTS inks with optimized selenization procedures, substrate CZTSSe solar cells have been successfully fabricated with device efficiencies of 7.7%.