Efficient Thermolysis Route to Monodisperse Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals with Controlled Shape and Structure

Abstract

Monodisperse Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals with tunable shape, crystalline phase, and composition are synthesized by efficient thermolysis of a single source precursor of mixed metal-oleate complexes in hot organic solvents with dissolved sulfur sources. Suitable tuning of the synthetic conditions and the Cu/(Zn + Sn) ratio of the precursor has enabled precise control of the crystalline phase in the form of kesterite, or a newly observed wurtzite structure. Nanocrystals with morphology in the form of spherical, rice-like, or rod-like shapes are obtained over a wide range of compositions (0.5 <= Cu/(Zn + Sn) <= 1.2). Both the final products and intermediates for each shape exhibit consistent composition and structure, indicating homogenous nucleation and growth of single-phase nanocrystals. Thin films prepared from colloidal nanocrystal suspensions display interesting shape-dependent photoresponse behavior under white light illumination from a solar simulator.

Description
Keywords
ONE-POT SYNTHESIS, SOLAR-CELLS, ANISOTROPIC SHAPE, CHARGE-TRANSPORT, BAND-GAP, WURTZITE, SIZE, OXIDE, INK, PHOTORESPONSE, Multidisciplinary Sciences
Citation
Zhang, X., Guo, G., Ji, C., Huang, K., Zha, C., Wang, Y., Shen, L., Gupta, A., & Bao, N. (2014). Efficient Thermolysis Route to Monodisperse Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals with Controlled Shape and Structure. In Scientific Reports (Vol. 4, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05086