Selenium/group 1b ink and methods of making and using same

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—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, Calkyl group, a Caryl group, a Calkylhydroxy group, an arylether group and an alkylether group; wherein R′ and Rare selected from a Calkyl group, a Caryl group, a Calkylhydroxy 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 MSematerial on a substrate for use in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells; wherein the mole ratio of M to selenium in the MSematerial deposited is tailorable; wherein M is at least one of copper and silver).