Microwave synthesis and characterization of Sb₂S₃@NiS nanocomposites and investigation of its solar cell application through the electrophoresis deposition method

Nanocomposites as the high performance materials demonstrate the unusual property combinations and unique design possibilities. Moreover, their potentials are so striking because they are useful in several areas ranging from energy to biomedical applications; therefore, in this research, nickel sulfide (NiS) nanoparticles, antimony trisulphide (Sb₂S₃) nanorods, and Sb₂S₃@NiS nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through the facile microwave method. Besides, mercapturic acid (TGA) was introduced as a capping agent, sulfur source, and solvent. Furthermore, to examined solar cell application of as synthesized Sb₂S₃, NiS, and Sb₂S₃@NiS nanocomposites three solar cell structures such as FTO/TiO₂/Sb₂S₃/Pt-FTO, FTO/TiO₂/NiS/Pt-FTO, and FTO/TiO₂/Sb₂S₃@NiS/Pt-FTO were performed by directly deposited Sb₂S₃, NiS, and Sb₂S₃@NiS nanocomposites film on top of the TiO₂ thin film. In addition, based on the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the as-synthesized Sb₂S₃@NiS nanocomposites indicated a ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. The composition and structure of final products were characterized by X-ray diffraction XRD, EDS, VSM, and SEM.