title: Alkahest for V2VI3 chalcogenides: dissolution of nine bulk semiconductors in a diamine-dithiol solvent mixture.
abstract: The ability to solution deposit semiconductor films has received a great deal of recent attention as a way to potentially lower costs for many optoelectronic applications; however, most bulk semiconductors are insoluble in common solvents. Here we describe a novel and relatively nonhazardous binary solvent mixture comprised of 1,2-ethanedithiol and 1,2-ethylenediamine that possesses the remarkable ability to rapidly dissolve a series of nine bulk V2VI3 chalcogenides (V = As, Sb, Bi; VI = S, Se, Te) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. After solution deposition and low-temperature annealing, the chalcogenides can be fully recovered as good quality, highly crystalline thin films with negligible organic content, as demonstrated for Sb2Se3 and Bi2S3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California 90089, United States.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brutchey