Facile synthesis of nanocrystalline wurtzite Cu–In–S by amine-assisted decomposition of precursors

Phase-pure ternary wurtzite Cu–In–S nanocrystals have been synthesized by a simple amine-assisted decomposition of mixed precursor complexes derived from S-methyl dithiocarbazate (SMDTC) at a relatively low temperature without using any external surfactant. The crystal phase, morphology, crystal lattice, and chemical composition of the as-prepared products were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The optical properties show the pronounced quantum confinement effect in nanocrystals. A possible growth mechanism has been suggested for the formation of anisotropic wurtzite Cu–In–S It is believed that a combined effect of the chelating amine and precursors containing CH3S unit plays a key role in the formation of the metastable phase of wurtzite Cu–In–S.