Cu2SnSe3

Cu2SnSe3 is a copper-tin-selenide semiconductor used in the development of thin-film solar energy conversion devices.

Crystal structure of Cu2SnSe3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Cu2SnSe3

Cu2SnSe3 is a ternary chalcogenide semiconductor that functions as a promising absorber material for thin-film photovoltaic technologies. Its electronic structure is characterized by a very narrow band gap, positioning it as a semimetallic candidate within the broader family of copper-based chalcogenides.

The material exhibits favorable thermodynamic stability, placing it near the convex hull of its phase diagram, which suggests it is a viable target for experimental synthesis. Its structural versatility is evidenced by numerous reported configurations, making it a subject of significant interest for researchers optimizing light-harvesting efficiency.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Cu2SnSe3, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

0.02–0.09 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.013 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Near hull (likely stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

19
4 databases, 4 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Cu2SnSe3.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where Cu2SnSe3 is used.

Photovoltaic solar cellsThin-film absorber layersSemiconductor research
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Cu2SnSe3, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Cu2SnSe3?

Cu2SnSe3 is a copper-tin-selenide semiconductor used in the development of thin-film solar energy conversion devices.

More questions
What is Cu2SnSe3 used for?
Cu2SnSe3 is used in photovoltaic solar cells, thin-film absorber layers, and semiconductor research.
What is the band gap of Cu2SnSe3?
Cu2SnSe3 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.02–0.09 eV across 19 reported structures.
Is Cu2SnSe3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a near-zero band gap it behaves as a (semi)metal.
Is Cu2SnSe3 thermodynamically stable?
Cu2SnSe3 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.013 eV/atom (near hull (likely stable)).
How many polymorphs of Cu2SnSe3 are known?
19 structures of Cu2SnSe3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 4 distinct space groups.
How is Cu2SnSe3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Cu2SnSe3 include sol gel, solid state (6 procedures documented).
What elements does Cu2SnSe3 contain?
Cu2SnSe3 contains Cu, Se, and Sn (3 elements).
Where does the data for Cu2SnSe3 come from?
Cu2SnSe3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the chalcogenide photovoltaic absorbers class.

Within the class of chalcogenide photovoltaic absorbers, Cu2SnSe3 serves as a selenium-based counterpart to the sulfur-rich Cu2SnS3. While many of its siblings like CuInLa2Se5 or Cu2Ga2Se4 rely on different elemental combinations to tune their electronic properties, Cu2SnSe3 is particularly notable for its narrow-gap behavior, offering a distinct alternative for spectral response modulation compared to the wider-gap members of the group.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Chalcogenide Photovoltaic Absorbers in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

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