Preparation and Characterization of Flower-like Cu(2)SnS(3) Nanostructures by Solvothermal Route

• Published in: Journal of materials science & technology Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 231 - 236
• Main Authors: Liang, Xiaojuan, Cai, Qian, Xiang, Weidong, Chen, Zhaopin, Zhong, Jiasong, Wang, Yun, Shao, Mingguo, Li, Zhenrong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Absorption; COMPOSITES; ETHYLENE GLYCOL; FLOWERS; Materials science; MICROSTRUCTURES; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Reaction time; SOLAR CELLS; SOLVENTS
• ISSN: 1005-0302

Flower-like Cu(2)SnS(3) nanostructures composed of nano-flakes were successfully synthesized by solvothermal technique at 180 degree C for 16 h. In the preparation process, CuCl(2)-2H(2)O, SnCl(2)-2H(2)O and thiourea were used as raw materials, and ethylene glycol were used as solvent. The results showed that the obtained product was pure phase Cu(2)SnS(3). The average diameter of Cu(2)SnS(3) flowers and the thickness of the nano-flakes were about 1-1.5 mu m and 10 nm, respectively. The influence of reaction time and solvents on the morphology, size and structure of the products was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction and field-emission scan electron microscopy (FESEM). The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum measurement indicated that the band gap of the sample was about 1.26 eV and could be applied to the absorbing layer of thin solar cell. The possible formatipn mechanism of flower-like Cu(2)SnS(3) was also proposed and discussed.