Electronics of anion hot injection-synthesized te-functionalized kesterite nanomaterial

Metal chalcogenides such as copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) have been intensively studied as potential photovoltaic cell materials, but their viability have been marred by crystal defects and low open circuit potential (Voc) deficit, which affected their energy conversion efficiency. Strategies to improve on the properties of this material such as alloying with other elements have been ex-plored and have yielded promising results. Here, we report the synthesis of CZTS and the partial substitution of S with Te via anion hot injection synthesis method to form a solid solution of a novel kesterite nanomaterial, namely, copper zinc tin sulfide telluride (CZTSTe). Particle-size analyzed via small angle X-ray scattering spectroscopy (SAXS) confirmed that CZTS and CZTSTe materials are nanostructured. Crystal planes values of 112, 200, 220 and 312 corresponding to the kesterite phase with tetragonal modification were revealed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopic analysis of CZTS and CZTSTe. The Raman spectroscopy confirmed the shifts at 281 cm−1 and 347 cm−1 for CZTS, and 124 cm−1, 149 cm−1 and 318 cm−1 for CZTSTe

Photocatalytic degradation of a basic dye in water by nanostructured HPEI/TiO2 containing membranes

A photocatalytically active membrane was synthesized through the embedding of HPEI/TiO2 nanocomposite in PES membrane for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye from water. Membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray, atomic force microscopy, water contact angle measurements and water flux analysis.  PES/HPEI/TiO2 membranes showed improved hydrophilicity and were effective in the photodegradation of MO. The reaction rate for MO degradation was 11.6 x 10−3∙min−1, and the degradation was accompanied by the generation of sulphate ions as degradation by-products