High Responsivity Photoconductors Based on Iron PyriteNanowires Using Sulfurization of Anodized Iron Oxide Nanotubes.

Ironpyrite (FeS2) nanostructures are of considerableinterest for photovoltaic applications due to improved material qualitycompared to their bulk counterpart. As an abundant and nontoxic semiconductor,FeS2nanomaterials offer great opportunities for low-costand green photovoltaic technology. This paper describes the fabricationof FeS2nanowire arrays via sulfurization of iron oxidenanotubes at relatively low temperatures. A facile synthesis of orderediron oxide nanotubes was achieved through anodization of iron foils.Characterization of the iron sulfide nanowires indicates that pyritestructures were formed. A prototype FeS2nanowire photoconductordemonstrates very high responsivity (>3.0 A/W). The presented methodcan be further explored to fabricate various FeS2nanostructures,such as nanoparticles, nanoflowers, and nanoplates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]