# Low-Temperature Synthesis and Postsynthetic Size-Tunability of AgSbS2 Nanocrystals and Their Application in Planar Solar Cells

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a new way to make AgSbS2 nanocrystals at room temperature and used them in solar cells with promising efficiency.

## Contribution

A room-temperature synthesis method for AgSbS2 nanocrystals with size-tunable properties is introduced for photovoltaic use.

## Key findings

- AgSbS2 nanocrystals were synthesized at room temperature using cation exchange.
- The nanocrystals showed size tunability and maintained ideal elemental composition.
- Planar solar cells using these nanocrystals achieved up to 1.99% power conversion efficiency.

## Abstract

Silver antimony sulfide (AgSbS2) has recently
emerged
as a promising semiconducting material for application in optoelectronics.
Its nontoxicity, earth-abundant composition, high absorption coefficient,
phase, and environmental stability make it particularly interesting
for photovoltaic applications. This study presents a facile room-temperature
synthesis of colloidal AgSbS2 nanocrystals via cation exchange.
The obtained AgSbS2 nanocrystals show a unique postsynthetic
size tunability with tunable optoelectronic properties while maintaining
an ideal elemental composition. The great potential of these ternary
nanocrystals is demonstrated by their integration into planar nanocrystal
solar cells for the first time, in which the AgSbS2 nanocrystals
form a compact layer, reaching a promising power conversion efficiency
of up to 1.99%, approaching the performance of bulk AgSbS2 photovoltaic cells.