Indium(III) selenide is a compound of
indium
Indium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol In and atomic number 49. It is a silvery-white post-transition metal and one of the softest elements. Chemically, indium is similar to gallium and thallium, and its properties are la ...
and
selenium
Selenium is a chemical element; it has symbol (chemistry), symbol Se and atomic number 34. It has various physical appearances, including a brick-red powder, a vitreous black solid, and a grey metallic-looking form. It seldom occurs in this elem ...
. It has potential for use in
photovoltaic
Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials that exhibit the photovoltaic effect, a phenomenon studied in physics, photochemistry, and electrochemistry. The photovoltaic effect is commercially ...
devices and has been the subject of extensive research. The two most common phases, α and β, have a layered structure, while γ has a "defect
wurtzite structure." In all, five
polymorphs are known: α, β, γ, δ, κ. The α-β phase transition is accompanied by a change in electrical conductivity. The
band gap
In solid-state physics and solid-state chemistry, a band gap, also called a bandgap or energy gap, is an energy range in a solid where no electronic states exist. In graphs of the electronic band structure of solids, the band gap refers to t ...
of γ-In
2Se
3 is approximately 1.9 eV.
Preparation
The method of production influences the polymorph generated. For example, thin films of pure γ-In
2Se
3 have been produced from
trimethylindium
Trimethylindium, often abbreviated to TMI or TMIn, is the organoindium compound with the formula In(CH3)3. It is a colorless, pyrophoric solid. Unlike trimethylaluminium, but akin to trimethylgallium, TMI is monomeric.
Preparation
TMI is prepare ...
(InMe
3) and
hydrogen selenide
Hydrogen selenide is an inorganic compound with the formula H2Se. This hydrogen chalcogenide is the simplest and most commonly encountered hydride of selenium. H2Se is a colorless, flammable gas under standard conditions. It is the most toxic se ...
via
MOCVD techniques.
:
A conventional route entails heating the elements in a sealed tube:
:
See also
*
Gallium(III) selenide
*
Indium chalcogenides
*
Nanoparticle
A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is a particle of matter 1 to 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. The term is sometimes used for larger particles, up to 500 nm, or fibers and tubes that are less than 100 nm in only two directions. At ...
General references
WebElements
Footnotes
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indium(Iii) Selenide
Indium compounds
Selenides
Solar cells
Semiconductor materials