Room temperature synthesis of CuInS2 nanocrystals

Herein, we investigate a synthetic approach to prepare copper indium sulfide nanocrystals at room temperature. The nanocrystals have a chalcopyrite crystal structure, a diameter of approximately 3 nm and are well soluble in organic solvents like toluene or chloroform. The synthesis is performed by dissolving metal xanthates as precursors together with oleylamine in toluene followed by stirring for several hours at room temperature leading to nanocrystals stabilized with oleylamine ligands. The nanoparticles are characterized in terms of inner structure by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman-, absorption- and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Their formation process is investigated by small angle X-ray scattering, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. The formation of the copper indium sulfide nanocrystals proceeds via a chemical reaction of the amine with the thiocarbonyl functionality of the xanthate. The presented method exemplifies a synthesis strategy, which can be easily expanded to other metal sulfide nanocrystals.