| abstract |
A selenium/Group 1b ink comprising, as initial components: a selenium component comprising selenium, an organic chalcogenide component having a formula selected from RZ—Z′R′ and R 2 —SH, a Group 1b component and a liquid carrier; wherein Z and Z′ are each independently selected from sulfur, selenium and tellurium; wherein R is selected from H, C 1-20 alkyl group, a C 6-20 aryl group, a C 1-20 alkylhydroxy group, an arylether group and an alkylether group; wherein R′ and R 2 are selected from a C 1-20 alkyl group, a C 6-20 aryl group, a C 1-20 alkylhydroxy group, an arylether group and an alkylether group; and wherein the selenium/Group 1b ink is a stable dispersion. Also provided are methods of preparing the selenium/Group 1b ink and of using the selenium/Group 1b ink to deposit selenium and a Group 1b material on a substrate (preferably to deposit a M a Se h material on a substrate for use in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells; wherein the mole ratio of M to selenium in the M a Se h material deposited is tailorable; wherein M is at least one of copper and silver). |