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Chalcogenide perovskites are gaining prominence as earth-abundant and non-toxic solar absorber materials, crystallizing in a distorted perovskite structure. Among these, BaZrS3 has attracted the most attention due to its optimal bandgap and its ability to be synthesized at relatively low temperatures. BaZrS3 exhibits a high light absorption coefficient, excellent stability under exposure to air, moisture, and heat, and is composed of earth-abundant elements. These properties collectively position BaZrS3 as a promising candidate for a wide range of applications, although traditional high-temperature synthesis has primarily been a significant challenge. In this review, we provide a critical discussion of the various synthesis methods employed to fabricate BaZrS3, including solid-state synthesis, nanoparticle synthesis, and vacuum-based as well as solution-based approaches to synthesize thin films. We also comprehensively examine the experimentally measured and theoretically calculated optical, optoelectronic, electronic, and defect properties of BaZrS3. Furthermore, this review highlights the functional devices based on BaZrS3, showcasing applications spanning photovoltaics, photodetection, thermoelectrics, photoelectrochemical water splitting, piezoelectricity, and spintronics. Lastly, we propose a future roadmap to maximize the potential of this material. Additionally, this review extends its focus to BaHfS3 and BaTiS3, discussing their synthesis methods, properties, and explored applications, thereby offering a comparative perspective on this emerging family of chalcogenide perovskites.
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This content will become publicly available on December 11, 2026
A reliable, colloidal synthesis method of the orthorhombic chalcogenide perovskite, BaZrS3, and related ABS3 nanomaterials (A = Sr, Ba; B = Ti, Zr, Hf): a step forward for earth-abundant, functional materials
Recently, chalcogenide perovskites, of the form ABX3, where typically A = alkaline earth metals Ca, Sr, or Ba; B = group IV transition metals Zr or Hf; and X = chalcogens S or Se, have become of interest for their potential optoelectronic properties. In this work, we build upon recent studies and show a general synthesis protocol, involving the use of carbon disulfide insertion chemistry, to generate highly reactive precursors that can be used towards the colloidal synthesis of numerous ABS3 nanomaterials, including BaTiS3, BaZrS3, BaHfS3, α-SrZrS3 and α-SrHfS3. We overcome the shortcomings in the current literature where BaZrS3 nanoparticles are synthesized in separate phases via colloidal methods and lack a reproducible protocol for orthorhombic perovskite nanoparticles. We present a high-temperature, hot-injection method that reliably controls the formation of the colloidal BaZrS3 nanoparticles with the Pnma orthorhombic distorted perovskite structure. We show that the alternate phase, most notably denoted by its extra peaks in the pXRD pattern, is distinct from the distorted perovskite phase as it has a different bandgap value obtained via UV-vis measurements. We also show that the reaction byproducts, resulting from the use of oleylamine and CS2, have their own photoluminescence (PL), and their residual presence on the surface of the nanoparticles complicates the interpretation of PL from the nanoparticles. The utility of these nanomaterials is also assessed via the measurement of their absorption properties and in the form of highly stable colloidal inks for the fabrication of homogeneous, crack-free thin films of BaZrS3 nanoparticles.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1855882
- PAR ID:
- 10657613
- Publisher / Repository:
- Chemical Science
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemical Science
- Volume:
- 16
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 2041-6520
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1308 to 1320
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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