Size control of monodisperse copper sulfide faceted nanocrystals and triangular nanoplates

High-quality faceted nanocrystals and triangular nanoplates of copper sulfide have been successfully synthesized by using the single source precursor method in the presence of oleylamine. The obtained faceted copper sulfide nanocrystals have an average size of 9.8 +/- 0.3 nm, showing the regularly hexagonal closely packed nanostructure. The resulting triangular copper sulfide nanoplates have an average side length of 12.3 +/- 0.6 nm, thickness of 0.8 nm, forming the six-leave flowerlike nanostructure due to their size uniformity. We also demonstrate that the shape, size, and even the phase forms of copper sulfide nanocrystals can be controlled systematically by adjusting certain reaction parameters, such as the carbon number of the substitute alkyl (n), the reaction temperature, and the concentration of the precursor.