Method of producing high performance photovoltaic and thermoelectric nanostructured bulk and thin films
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention provide methods of forming photovoltaic or thermoelectric materials, including photovoltaic or thermoelectric films. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of forming a photovoltaic material, the method comprising: depositing an inorganic capped nanoparticle solution onto a substrate; and heating the substrate.
1. A method of forming a photovoltaic material, the method comprising:
depositing an inorganic capped nanoparticle solution onto a substrate, wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes an inorganic capping ligand attached to a surface of the inorganic capped nanoparticle, the inorganic capping ligand selected from the group consisting of: hydrazine ligands and DMSO; and
heating the substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes a nanocrystal ink bonded to the inorganic ligand.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes toluene.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is heated prior to the depositing.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
drying the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution to form a nanostructured solid.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
removing the nanostructured solid from the substrate.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
micronizing the nanostructured solid.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
sintering the micronized nanostructured solid.
9. A method of forming a thermoelectric material, the method comprising:
depositing an inorganic capped nanoparticle solution onto a substrate, wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes an inorganic capping ligand attached to a surface of the inorganic capped nanoparticle, the inorganic capping ligand selected from the group consisting of: hydrazine ligands and DMSO; and
heating the substrate.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes a nanocrystal ink bonded to the inorganic ligand.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution includes toluene.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is heated prior to the depositing.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
drying the inorganic capped nanoparticle solution to form a nanostructured solid.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
removing the nanostructured solid from the substrate.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
micronizing the nanostructured solid.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sintering the micronized nanostructured solid.