By combining X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray diffraction measurements with density functional and molecular dynamics simulations, we study the structure of a set of AgxBi1-xS2 nanoparticles, a materials system of considerable current interest for photovoltaics. An apparent contradiction between the evidence provided by X-ray absorption and diffraction measurements is solved by means of the simulations. We find that disorder in the cation sublattice induces strong local distortions, leading to the appearance of short Ag-S bonds, the overall lattice symmetry remaining close to hexagonal. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Cation disorder and local structural distortions in AgxBi1-xS2 nanoparticles
D'acapito F;Boscherini F
2020
Abstract
By combining X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray diffraction measurements with density functional and molecular dynamics simulations, we study the structure of a set of AgxBi1-xS2 nanoparticles, a materials system of considerable current interest for photovoltaics. An apparent contradiction between the evidence provided by X-ray absorption and diffraction measurements is solved by means of the simulations. We find that disorder in the cation sublattice induces strong local distortions, leading to the appearance of short Ag-S bonds, the overall lattice symmetry remaining close to hexagonal. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.