A simple solution-phase approach to synthesize high quality ternary AgInSe2 and band gap tunable quaternary AgIn(S1−xSex)2 nanocrystals

• Published in: Nanoscale Vol. 6; no. 12; p. 6782
• Main Authors: Bai, Tianyu, Li, Chunguang, Li, Feifei, Zhao, Lan, Wang, Zhaorui, Huang, He, Chen, Cailing, Han, Yu, Shi, Zhan, Feng, Shouhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 21.06.2014
• ISSN: 2040-3364; 2040-3372; 2040-3372
• DOI: 10.1039/c4nr00233d

A facile solution-phase route for the preparation of AgInSe2 nanocrystals was developed by using silver nitrate, indium stearate, and oleylamine-selenium (OAm-Se) as precursors. The evolution process of the AgInSe2 nanocrystals is discussed in detail and different reaction conditions all have a great impact on the growth and morphology of the nanocrystals. Alloyed AgIn(S1-xSex)2 nanocrystals with controlled composition across the entire range (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) was also successfully prepared by modulating the S/Se reactant mole ratio. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to confirm that the alloyed AgIn(S1-xSex)2 nanocrystals are homogeneous. The UV-vis absorption spectra revealed that the band gap energies of the alloyed AgIn(S1-xSex)2 nanocrystals could be continuously tuned by increasing the Se content.