The Renaissance of Iron Pyrite Photovoltaics: Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives - Low-cost Nanomaterials: Toward Greener and More Efficient Energy Applications - page 158

Fig. 19 Top J-V curves of photodetector devices. Bottom Absorbance and EQE measurements
of both pyrite quantum dot and nanocube utilizing devices. Reprinted with permission from [ 63 ]
4 Summary
Pyrite is an interesting system full of promise, but many problems must be
addressed before it can become a golden material for photodevices. It started off
being investigated in the 1970s for use in thin film solar cells without much luck
on final devices, although much was learned and can be learned from these well-
studied films. With the explosion of nanochemistry, research into creating and
controlling shapes and exposed surface facets has been bolstered. New synthetic
ways, from hydrothermal to solvothermal, have been investigated with success in
control of nanocrystal formation. With these materials, new working devices are
now being fabricated and studied. Pyrite nanochemistry is a new subject that holds
much promise for energy harvesting and photodetection. Studies of pyrite must
press on and try to answer still open questions of the system such as:
• Kinetics of crystal growth and effects of ligands on creating stoichiometric
pyrite without impurities.
• Shape and size control of nanocrystals and creation of quantum confined pyrite
nanocrystals.