Summary: | Energy consumption and environmental pollution are major issues faced by the world. The present study introduces a single solution using SnS<sub>2</sub> for these two major global problems. SnS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles and thin films were explored as an adsorbent to remove organic toxic materials (Rhodamine B (RhB)) from water and an alternative to the toxic cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer for thin-film solar cells, respectively. Primary characterization tools such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy were used to analyze the SnS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles and thin films. At a reaction time of 180 min, 0.4 g/L of SnS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles showed the highest adsorption capacity of 85% for RhB (10 ppm), indicating that SnS<sub>2</sub> is an appropriate adsorbent. The fabricated Cu(In,Ga)Se<sub>2</sub> (CIGS) device with SnS<sub>2</sub> as a buffer showed a conversion efficiency (~5.1%) close to that (~7.5%) of a device fabricated with the conventional CdS buffer, suggesting that SnS<sub>2</sub> has potential as an alternative buffer.
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