A comparative study on characterizations and synthesis of pure lead sulfide (PbS) and Ag-doped PbS for photovoltaic applications

Muhammad Hasnain Jameel; Shahroz Saleem; Muhammad Hashim; Muhammad Sufi Roslan; Hamoud Hassan Naji Somaily; Mahmoud M. Hessin; Zeinhom M. El-Bahy; Muhammad Gul Bahr Ashiq; Maytham Qabel Hamzah; Abdullah Hasan Jabbar; Jibrin Alhaji Yabagi; Mohd Arif Bin Agam

doi:10.1515/ntrev-2021-0100

Article Open Access

A comparative study on characterizations and synthesis of pure lead sulfide (PbS) and Ag-doped PbS for photovoltaic applications

Muhammad Hasnain Jameel , Shahroz Saleem , Muhammad Hashim , Muhammad Sufi Roslan , Hamoud Hassan Naji Somaily , Mahmoud M. Hessin , Zeinhom M. El-Bahy , Muhammad Gul Bahr Ashiq , Maytham Qabel Hamzah , Abdullah Hasan Jabbar , Jibrin Alhaji Yabagi and Mohd Arif Bin Agam

Published/Copyright: October 13, 2021

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From the journal Nanotechnology Reviews Volume 10 Issue 1

Abstract

In this study, a hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize lead sulfide (PbS) and silver (Ag)-doped PbS nanoparticles (NPs) at different concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% of Ag. The small lattice phase changes appeared due to the shifting of diffraction angle peaks toward higher 2θ for samples doped with PbS with increasing Ag content. The analysis of average crystallite size, phase structure, and lattice constant was observed under X-ray diffraction. The value of crystallite size, volume of the unit cell, and porosity (%) were found to increase with the increasing concentration of Ag NPs in PbS. The pure PbS crystallite size is small compared to Ag-doped PbS. The optical characteristics including absorption spectra of the prepared samples were investigated and confirmed by using scanning electron microscope and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The observation of the composition showed that higher doping concentrations of Ag lead to an increase in particle size. Absorption peaks in the UV-Vis spectra corresponding to pure and 20, 40, and 60% of Ag/PbS were observed at different wavelengths of 368, 369, 371, and 372 nm, respectively. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy peaks were found in the vibration mode of the ions due to the increment in Ag doping concentrations. These results indicate the possibility of tuning the optical structural properties of Ag-doped PbS through doping various concentrations of Ag NPs. Ag-doped PbS is considered promising future semiconductor nanomaterial, which will enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic device applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Ag/PbS; pure lead sulfide; photovoltaic applications

1 Introduction

Due to its promising and remarkable optoelectronic properties, Ag-doped lead sulfide (PbS) has traditionally been regarded a potential photovoltaic material. Ag-doped PbS has recently received a lot of interest due to its numerous potential applications in modern communication technologies such as global positioning systems, software radio systems, and environmental monitoring satellites. Furthermore, Ag-doped PbS cubic crystalline is used for optical and photonic switching. It is one of the most attractive metal sulfides for a wide range of applications such as Pb²⁺ ion selector sensors and photovoltaic cells [1,2].

In addition, Ag-doped PbS is an important inorganic compound which has been studied for its numerous applications. Ag-doped PbS belongs to II–VI compound semiconductor nano-materials with a cubic crystal structure. The Ag-doped PbS belongs to the space group Fm3m and has the lattice constant a = 5.939 Å. The lead and sulfur ions occupy sites 4(a) with coordinates (0, 0, 0) and sites 4(b) with coordinates (1/2, 1/2, 1/2), respectively. Ag-doped lead sulfide (Ag:PbS) seems to be a promising semiconductor material due to its smallest band gap (0.41 eV at 300 K) and large excitation Bohr radius of 18 nm [3,4].

The semiconductor Ag:PbS has photovoltaic and thermoelectric properties [5]. Ag:PbS semiconductor materials have good potential not only due to their tunable optical and electrical characteristics but due to their potential for use in many technological innovations such as solar cells, IR detector, photoconductor photovoltaic cells, and electrochemical storage devices [6,7]. Their properties are dependent on the structure, shape, phase, chemical composition, size, size distribution, and synthesis method of nanoparticles (NPs) [8,9].

Ag:PbS is one of those nanomaterials used by industries for photo-detector and photovoltaic solar cells energy storage applications. The binary compound semiconductor of groups II and IV is prominent nanomaterial to produce photonic devices such as photoconductive cells, solar cells, photocatalytics, LEDs, and memory storage devices. Ag:PbS is a prominent narrow band gap nanomaterial. It is one of the fascinating metal sulfides for a wide range of photo-detector applications [10,11].

Recently Ag:PbS nanostructures have been extensively used for photovoltaic applications. Ag:PbS NP photo-detector shows excellent efficiency [12]. Normally, high dark current lead to high short noise, the noise that occurs due to the low presence of light in the photodetector. Studies show that black crystal of controlled layer phosphorus can be used for optimizing band gap of highly responsive photo-detector at specific wavelength where low dark current certainly achieved [13]. Blocking layers have also been reported to reduce the dark current in tin (II) phthalocyanine in photovoltaic cells [14]. Morphological and molecular structures are also a main factor influencing dark current density in organic photovoltaic devices based on interaction with molecular donor materials [15]. Meanwhile, minimizing dark current had shown a significant effect in speeding up the response of photovoltaic UV detectors [16]. For ensuring the excellent performance of photovoltaic devices dark currents should be less and the dissociation of light generated charge carriers must be enhanced [17]. Ag is a good metal element with unique characteristics. Furthermore, it behaves as an electron contributor when it is substituted into the PbS NPs as a result of decrement in the p-type character, and in turn, the dark currents decrease [18].

In this study, Ag:PbS nanomaterials were found to be convenient and efficient semiconductors for applications in electronic devices. Doping of Ag with any element may influence its structural, optoelectronic, and photonic properties. Ag nanomaterials have received considerable attention because of its extraordinary role in semiconductors for photovoltaic cells [19,20,21]. In this work, Ag:PbS NPs in the porous form have been prepared using the facile hydrothermal method for applications in electronic devices while using PbCl₂ and AgNO₃ as chemical reactants at 250°C.

2 Experimental details

Lead chloride (PbCl₂) and Na₂S used in this process as starting chemicals were of high purity grade, and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) was applied as a dopant for all prepared samples except one. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results were obtained through an X-ray diffractometer using nickel-filtered Cu Kα radiation. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images were obtained on an LEO device model 1455VP. Absorption wavelength and band gap were observed using 5000 UV NIR spectrophotometer. The Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) observed on a Perkin-Elmer GX FTIR was used to obtain 10 cm⁻¹ resolution spectrum in the range of 500–4,000 cm⁻¹.

2.1 Preparation of Ag:PbS NPs

Pure PbCl₂ was taken 100% and dissolved in 50 mL distilled water and stirred for 1 h. This was called solution “A.” In another beaker with a volume of 250 mL sodium sulfide (Na₂S) 1.95 g was dissolved in 50 mL distilled water and stirred for 1 h. This was called solution “B.” Cetyl trimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) 0.1 g was also mixed in the solution of PbCl₂. These solutions were mixed while being continuously stirred in a beaker for 1 h. The quantity of the material was 100 mL. Around 10 mL of ammonia (NH₃) was added in the mixture of PbCl₂ solution inside the flask. The addition of improper resolution (NH₃) was continued till pH 7 was reached. After this step, the solution of mixture of “A” and “B” was about 150 mL.

A PbCl₂ solution of milky color was obtained. Moreover, green color Na₂S was mixed till its color changed to brown. After this, at room temperature, the prepared milky color solution was stirred for 1 h, so that the homogeneity of the prepared solution can be easily maintained. The same procedure was used in samples S₂, S_3, and S₄ for 2 h, respectively. Later, AgNO₃ was used as dopant for the other three samples. The concentrations were taken as 20% AgNO₃ and 80% PbCl₂ for sample S₂, 40% AgNO₃ and 60% PbCl₂ for sample S_3, and 20% AgNO₃ and 80% PbCl₂ for sample S₄, while the concentration of Na₂S was kept the same in all the four samples. At the bottom of the beaker grains of milky colors were established. Milky color synthesized NPs were cleaned through distilled water till it became neutral (pH = 7). After the cleaning and filtration process, the ending NPs were put into a china dish. The sample was dehydrated in an oven for 2 h at 60°C. This solution was kept in two different size autoclaves and kept in the oven for 17 h at the temperature of 250°C as shown in Figure 1. After the samples cooled down they were centrifuged for 5 min at 600 rev s⁻¹. The water was discharged and the process was repeated. The obtained compound is passed through the sonication process. Furthermore, the paste was kept in the furnace for 17 h. Finally, when it dried, the sample was grinded with the help of mortar and pestle to turn it into powder form. PbS samples prepared in different concentration ratios are presented in Table 1.

Figure 1

Experimental diagram of sample preparation of pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations.

Table 1

Samples of PbS (in 50 mL), AgNO₃ (in 50 mL), and Na₂S (in 50 mL) prepared with different ratios

Serial no.	PbCl₂ (g)	AgNO₃ (g)	Na₂S (g)	CTAB (g)	NH₃ (mL)
Sample S₁	100%		1.95	0.1	10
Sample S₂	80%	20%	1.95	0.1	10
Sample S₃	60%	40%	1.95	0.1	10
Sample S₄	40%	60%	1.95	0.1	10

3 Results and discussion

3.1 Phase analysis by XRD

XRD was used to observe phase formation and the average crystallite size of pure PbS and Ag substituted PbS. Figure 2 shows the XRD results extracted of pure PbS and Ag:PbS NPs at different concentrations of Ag with 20, 40, and 60%. The results showed that the samples had cubic structure and no other impurity was present up to 20%. However, at 60% small impurities were present and at 2θ angle = (50–52.5°), (311) and (222) peaks were not clearly separated. XRD analysis of PbS NPs revealed the formation of cubic phase PbS NPs with the Fm3m space group. It is noted that some peaks were shifted toward higher 2θ while increasing the concentrations of Ag dopant in PbS NPs which may be due to micro strain in the product. As the dopant element Ag was increased from 20, 40, and 60%, the peak for plane (111) was shifted to larger angles, whereas the peak (422) was approximately unchanged. The peaks merged to a single (311) and (331) peak, at a point of 20, 40, and 60% Ag content. Sharp peaks in Figure 2 show that pure PbS NPs have the smallest crystallite size and lattice parameters, but on the other side, the crystalline behavior of Ag:PbS NPs increased with the increase in the concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% of Ag dopant. The findings showed that the cubic structure of Ag:PbS with increasing content of Ag has small distortions.

Figure 2

XRD pattern of pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations: (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%.

Lattice constant (a) states the physical quantity of unit cells. Lattice constants in three dimensions mostly have three constants, represented as a, b, and c. Interplanar spacing (h, k, l) are designated planes and prominent miller indices adjacent planes [22].

The crystallite size (D) is a calculation made from XRD investigation referring to certain angles using Scherrer’s formula. Crystallite size is calculated in nano-meter. The factor (K) in its shape range changes with the orignal shape of the crystal Θ is signify of Bragg’s angle. β is represents the line broadening (bisector) at half intensity of XRD peak, after removing the helpful line increase, in radians (r) [23].

(1) D = K λ β cos Θ .

Atomic packing factor of cubical architecture can be calculated through the following formula [24,25,26]:

(2) P = 1 ⁎ 4 3 π 1 2 a 3 a 3 ,

(3) a = d h 2 + l 2 + k 2 ,

(4) V = a 3 .

Density (ρ _x) of X-ray can be observed by using the following formula:

(5) ρ x = Z M N A ,

where Z indicates the atomic number contained in a unit cell (Z = 8), M denotes the compound molecular weight of, and N _A is the Avogadro number [27].

(6) ρ x = n M w N A V .

Strain of the unit cell of a crystal lattice can be calculated using the following equation [28]:

(7) Strain = k λ D .

The crystallite size of the samples was found to be 6.49 nm for undoped PbS but 7.54, 8.43, and 9.55 nm for 20, 40, and 60% of Ag-doped NP respectively as shown in Table 2. The porosity significantly increases with the increase of Ag-doped NP in sintering temperature as shown in Figure 3 [29,30,31]. In equation (8) density (ρ _x) of X-ray and ( ρ B ) donates bulk density.

(8) Porosity = 1 − ρ B ρ x × 100 % .

Table 2

Lattice parameters for pure PbS and Ag:PbS at (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%

Calcination Ag content	Crystallite size (nm)	d-spacing	Lattice constant	X-ray density (g cm⁻³)	Porosity (%)
Pure	6.49	2.8882	5.7764	1.6489	3.51
20% Ag	7.54	2.9672	5.9344	1.5206	3.65
40% Ag	8.43	2.9695	5.9390	1.5171	5.98
60% Ag	9.55	2.9729	5.9458	1.5119	8.65

Figure 3

Ag concentration and particles size, porosity of undoped and doped PbS.

3.2 Morphology studied by SEM

SEM was used in the micro-structural analysis of the samples. The specimens were studied for grain size and morphology. The SEM micrograph of pure PbS and Ag:PbS clearly showed in Figure 4 that there was an inhomogeneous distribution of various sizes and morphology. The formation of nano-rods of pure PbS and an agglomeration of NPs of Ag:PbS of various sizes were seen. The formation of the agglomeration of NPs might enhance the usability of Ag:PbS samples. There was a significant change in pure PbS and morphology by the addition of Ag atoms into the PbS. The average grain size as measured from SEM images was 19.48, 21.50, and 27.50 nm for 20, 40, and 60% for Ag:PbS respectively. One concludes from the SEM images that the particle size increased with the increment of Ag concentration in PbS samples.

Figure 4

SEM micrographs of pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations: (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%.

3.3 Dark current measurement for pure and Ag:PbS

A dark current diode was used to conduct dark current suppression. Dark current is a small amount of current that flow through photovoltaic devices such as photodiode, solar cells, photoconductor, IR detector, charge-coupled devices, and photovoltaic cells. For the excellent performance of photovoltaic devices dark currents should be less and dissociation of light generated charge carriers must be enhanced. Ag is a good metal element with unique characteristics. Furthermore, it behaves as an electron contributor when it is substituted into the PbS NPs as a result of decrement in p-type character, and in turn, the dark currents decrease as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Dark current for pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations: (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%.

3.4 UV-Vis and band gap studies

UV-Vis absorption is studied along with the band gap measurements of pure PbS and with 20, 40, and 60% concentration of Ag:PbS as given in Figure 6. The absorption measurement has been carried out in a range of wavelengths between 200 and 900 nm. Absorption characteristic peak at wavelength 368 nm appeared for pure PbS sample. But absorption characteristics peak at wavelengths 369, 371, and 372 nm with 20, 40, and 60% concentration of Ag:PbS, respectively. According to the calculation made from the equation (9), the band gap value for (c) 60% of Ag:PbS was determined at 5.16 eV. A prominent red shift appeared for Ag–PbS in the absorption spectra compared to the pure PbS sample. UV-Vis absorption spectra measurements indicate that Ag–PbS samples can absorb more light than pure PbS samples.

Figure 6

UV-Vis absorption spectra for pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations: (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%.

UV-Vis absorption spectra for (c) 60% g concentration of Ag:PbS is shown in Figure 6s. Using Tauc’s equation, the energy band gap of doped samples can be calculated through the tangent line in the plot of (αhν)ⁿ [32,33,34].

(9) ( α h v ) = k ( h v − E g ) n ,

where “α” is absorbance coefficient, “hv” is the incident photon energy, “k” is energy independent constant, and “E _g” is the energy gap of the optical band [34,35,36]. The band gap value was calculated at 5.16 eV by applying equation (9) for the absorption spectrum at wavelength 372 nm. The band gap measurements for pure PbS and 20, 40, and 60% concentration of Ag:PbS, respectively, is shown in Table 3. It has been clearly found that the Ag–PbS band gap increased as Ag concentration increased as shown in Figure 7. The data of the optical band gap for pure PbS and Ag:PbS are shown in Table 3, where the band gap value is in the range of 4.50–5.16 eV which has become ultra-wide band gap semiconductor material. Generally, wide band gap semiconductors have electronic properties which fall in between conventional semiconductor and insulators. The higher energy gap gives devices the ability to operate at higher temperature and power switching. Furthermore, the bandgap shrinks with increasing temperature. Wide band semiconductors are useful at shorter wavelengths than other semiconductor materials.

Table 3

Band gap for pure PbS and Ag:PbS at (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%

Ag content (g)	Absorption wavelength (nm)	Band gap (eV)
Pure PbS	368	4.50
20%	369	4.72
40%	371	5.11
60%	372	5.16

Figure 7

Ag concentration with particles size and band gap energy of pure PbS and Ag:PbS.

3.5 FTIR

The infrared spectrum is an important tool to probe different ordering phenomena. This technique provides information about the position of ions in the crystal, geometry, interaction of molecules, and the crystal vibration modes. The FTIR spectra of pure PbS and Ag:PbS were measured in the range of 500–4,000 cm⁻¹ at different concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% of Ag:PbS, respectively. The FTIR spectra of pure and Ag:PbS possess four characteristic bands in the range of 500–3,000 cm⁻¹. The values of bands according to the wave number of pure PbS are 1,036 and 3,006 cm⁻¹, at 20%-Ag 685, 1,026, 1,382, 2,990 cm⁻¹ and at 40%-Ag bands value are 659, 1,020, 1,372, and 2,990 cm⁻¹. Similarly at 60%-Ag bands value are 649, 1,015, 1,351, and 2,943 cm⁻¹.

This band pattern is assigned with the vibration mode of Ag and lead ions due to the increment of Ag concentration. This pattern indicates that band’s values are increased by increasing the Ag-doped concentration, which is shown in Figure 8. The value of transmittance is also decreased by Ag-doped concentration. However, the higher frequency band 685 cm⁻¹ is shifted to the lower frequency band 649 cm⁻¹ by increasing Ag doping concentration.

Figure 8

FTIR spectra for pure PbS and Ag:PbS at different concentrations: (a) 20%, (b) 40%, and (c) 60%.

4 Conclusion

In this study, a hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize PbS and Ag”PbS NPs at different concentrations of Ag for photovoltaic device application. The lattice distortion or phase changes appeared due to the shifting of diffraction angle peaks to higher 2θ in the samples of Ag:PbS with increasing Ag content. The values of the crystallite’s size, volume of the unit cell, and porosity (%) were found to increase with the increasing concentrations of Ag NPs in PbS. The pure PbS crystallite’s size is relatively small compared to Ag:PbS. The dark current decreased presumably because of the decrement in p-type character with the increment in Ag doping into PbS NPs. Absorption peaks in UV-Vis spectra corresponded to pure, 20, 40, and 60% of Ag:PbS, observed at different wavelengths of 368, 369, 371, and 372 nm, respectively. FTIR peaks found that vibration mode of ions due to increment Ag doping concentration. Experimental results indicate the possibility of tuning the optical structural properties of Ag:PbS through the doping of various concentrations of Ag NPs. Ag:PbS are promising semiconductor nanomaterials that can enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic device applications.

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Taif University Researchers supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/109), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at the King Khalid University for financial support through the research groups program under grant number (R.G.P. 2/171/42).

Funding information: Taif University Researchers supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/109), Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at the King Khalid University for financial support through the research groups program under grant number (R.G.P. 2/171/42).
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

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Received: 2021-07-24

Revised: 2021-09-21

Accepted: 2021-09-25

Published Online: 2021-10-13

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2021-0100

Keywords for this article

Ag/PbS; pure lead sulfide; photovoltaic applications

Creative Commons

BY 4.0