CONTINUOUS FLOW PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS OF NANOPARTICLES, COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS AND USES THEREOF

摘要

A continuous flow process for the preparation of a colloidal solution of Cu2AxSnSey nanoparticles, wherein A is selected from Cd, Hg, Ni and Zn, 0=x=1, and 3=y=4, which comprises a) mixing in a continuous flow reaction unit under inert atmosphere and at an appropriate temperature, an appropriate amount of each of i) a solution of an A salt in an inert organic solvent; ii) a solution of a Sn salt in an inert organic solvent; iii) a solution of a Cu salt in an inert organic solvent; iv) a Se coordination compound; and, v) one or more stabilising agents selected from primary (C12-C18)-amine, a (C12- C18)-carboxylic acid, a (C10-C14)-phosphonic acid, and a mixture of any of the amines with any of the acids; the inert organic solvent is equal or different for each salt, has a dielectric constant <10, and a boiling temperature between 100-350°C; b) progressively heating the mixture up to a temperature between 100-350°C at a speed between 10 s-10 min; and, c) collecting the resulting Cu2AxSnSey nanoparticle colloidal solution of step b). A colloidal solution of Cu2AxSnSey nanoparticles with an average size between 1-100 nm, and a variance of the size distribution up to 20%, wherein A is selected from Cd, Hg and Ni, 0=x=1, and 3=y=4; and uses thereof. And methods for the manufacture of a photovoltaic cell, a photodetector or a thermoelectric device, comprising preparing the colloidal solution as defined above, and applying the colloidal solution onto an appropriate substrate