Colloidal synthesis of pure CuInTe₂ crystallites based on the HSAB theory

Abstract

The determination of the order of precursor addition based on the HSAB theory in the synthesis of pure CuInTe2 particles.

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of Cu3VSe4 nanocrystals

“…Specifically, the optical band gaps of Cu 3 VTe 4 , Cu 3 NbTe 4 , Cu 3 VSe 4 , Cu 3 TaTe 4 , and Cu 3 VS 4 are 1.19 eV, 1.46 eV, 1.49 eV, 1.69 eV, and 1.72 eV, respectively, are suitable for photovoltaic applications. [3,4] While the telluride sulvanites Cu 3 MTe 4 (M = V, Nb, Ta) present an appealing trend in regard to both their optical bandgap [3] and other applications, materials fabrication seems cumbersome due to the low reactivity and solubility of Te powder in the aliphatic solvents, [5,6] hindering the wide application of Cu 3 MTe 4 (M = V, Nb, Ta) materials. Thus, Cu 3 VSe 4 and Cu 3 VS 4 remain the sulvanite compounds that present most interest for photovoltaic applications.…”

Synthesis of CuInTe2 nanowires: A polycrystalline‐to‐single‐crystalline transformation process

“…Kim et al reported CuInTe 2 thin film had a light absorption in the range of 1200‐400 nm with a absorption peak centered at about 1000 nm. Ntholeng reported light absorption occurred for CuInTe 2 crystallites in the range of 2200‐800 nm with a peak centered at 950 nm . Zhang et al found that CuInTe 2 ultrathin nanoplates exhibited significant absorption in the visible spectral region with a quick intensity increase below 600 nm.…”

“…Ntholeng reported light absorption occurred for CuInTe 2 crystallites in the range of 2200-800 nm with a peak centered at 950 nm. 22 Zhang et al 14 found that CuInTe 2 ultrathin nanoplates exhibited significant absorption in the visible spectral region with a quick intensity increase below 600 nm. Some minor difference in the light absorption may originate from CuInTe 2 product shape, synthesis approach and reaction temperature.…”

Sulvanites: The Promise at the Nanoscale

“…When elemental chalcogenides are used in colloidal synthesis, they are typically dissolved in common solvents, such as amine, alkenes, thiols, phosphines, to form soluble chalcogenide precursors [ 50 ]. However, the elemental tellurium exhibits an extremely low solubility in most aliphatic solvents, which is likely due to its lower reduction potential [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. Phosphine ligands, which could be used as solvent for elemental tellurium, are air sensitive and expensive, limiting their extensive application in the colloidal synthesis of Cu 3 MTe 4 compounds.…”

“…Given the focus on the characterization and synthesis of these compounds, there has been less effort put forth into their potential application. This is especially true for Cu 3 MTe 4 , which has seen the least amount of published information on the sulvanite compounds, primarily due to the necessity for low-temperature solid-state methods [ 38 ] instead of the commonly used high-temperature annealing process or complications with reactivity and solubility in solution-phase methods [ 52 ]. However, the research of these compounds beyond polycrystalline powders has recently gained interest, particularly in colloidal nanocrystals [ 8 , 9 , 12 , 24 ].…”