Solution-processed AgBiS₂ nanocrystal films are a promising material for nontoxic, earth-abundant solar cells. While solar cells with good device efficiency are demonstrated, so far, hardly anything is known about charge generation, transport, and recombination processes in these films. Here, a photoinduced time-resolved microwave conductivity study on AgBiS₂ nanocrystal films is presented. By modeling the experimental data with density-dependent recombination processes, the product of the temperature-dependent electron and hole quantum yield and mobility, and the electron and hole recombination kinetics are determined.

Trigonal selenium is a semiconducting van der Waals solid that consists of helical atomic chains. We studied the mobility and decay dynamics of excess electrons and holes moving along the selenium chains. Excess charge carriers were generated by irradiation of powdered selenium with 3 MeV electron pulses. Their mobility and decay via trapping or recombination was studied by time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements as a function of temperature. The mobility of charge carriers along the Se chains is at least ca. 0.5 cm²·V^-1·s^-1 at room temperature. Charges decay predominantly by trapping at defects. The appreciable mobility, together with the potential for large-scale production of Se wires by liquid exfoliation, makes this material of great interest for use in nanoelectronics.