Bismuth-Doped CuGaS₂ Thin Films for Enhanced Photovoltaic and Electrocatalytic Performance


Year : 2024 | Volume : 11 | Issue : 03 | Page : 01-07
    By

    B. Goswami,

  1. Former Assistant Professor, Metallurgical Engineering Department, RVS College of Engineering and Technology, Jamshedpur, India

Abstract

This study presents the development and application of bismuth (Bi)-doped CuGaS₂ thin films for enhanced performance in photovoltaic and electrocatalytic systems. Using a cost-effective all-solution processing method, Bi-doped CuGaS₂ chalcopyrite nanocrystals were synthesized and spray-deposited onto molybdenum substrates. The resulting films, with a thickness of approximately 730 nm and grain sizes larger than 400 nm, exhibited superior optical properties and a lower band gap compared to undoped films, making them ideal candidates for absorber layers in thin-film solar cells. In the realm of photovoltaics, Bi-doped CuGaS₂ showed promising results as a non-toxic, lead-free alternative to conventional materials like lead halide perovskites. These materials showed appropriate band gaps and good absorption coefficients in spite of their decreased current efficiency. Furthermore, the study explored the antioxidative stability of Bi₂Se₃ nanosheets, improving the material’s potential for use in electronic devices by incorporating halide anions as passivation agents. Beyond photovoltaics, the study also highlights the potential of bismuth vanadate (BVO)-modified electrodes for electrocatalysis. The BVO@C (BVO/graphite) electrodes demonstrated remarkable efficiency in degrading organic pollutants such as Rhodamine B, with degradation rates significantly improved through photoelectrocatalysis (PEC). This work underscores the potential of Bi-doped thin films and composites in advancing both solar energy harvesting and environmental remediation technologies, offering cost-effective, scalable solutions for future sustainable applications.

Keywords: Bismuth-doped CuGaS₂ , Thin films, Photovoltaics, Electrocatalysis, Chalcopyrite nanocrystals, Solar cells, Photoelectrocatalysis (PEC)

[This article belongs to Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application (jotcsta)]

How to cite this article:
B. Goswami. Bismuth-Doped CuGaS₂ Thin Films for Enhanced Photovoltaic and Electrocatalytic Performance. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2024; 11(03):01-07.
How to cite this URL:
B. Goswami. Bismuth-Doped CuGaS₂ Thin Films for Enhanced Photovoltaic and Electrocatalytic Performance. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2024; 11(03):01-07. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jotcsta/article=2024/view=184224


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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 11
Issue 03
Received 24/10/2024
Accepted 06/11/2024
Published 13/11/2024