The renaissance of iron pyrite photovoltaics: Progress, challenges, and perspectives

Abstract

Pyrite has long been proposed as a green solar cell material. Even with its promising properties, studies on pyrite have lagged behind many other semiconducting materials. Unanswered questions about the affects of defects and how to grow pure crystalline material still exist. With the rise of nanochemistry and more powerful computational methods, pyrite is seeing an explosion of new studies. This chapter first presents pyrite and its green promise as a material, followed by the materials characteristics. It then moves into synthesis of pyrite, starting with old methods and then transitioning into different methods of nanocrystal creation. Finally, photo-devices created out of pyrite materials are discussed. The chapter then wraps up with a summary and what still needs to be done for pyrite to achieve its golden status.