Synthesis and photocatalytic property of Cu ₂ CoSnS ₄ nanocrystals with stannite and wurtzite structure

Abstract

Stannite and wurtzite Cu 2 CoSnS 4 (CCTS) nanocrystals are successfully prepared via a solvothermal approach. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy reveal that pure CCTS phases with stannite and wurtzite structure are obtained. Scanning electron microscopy shows that CCTS nanocrystals with stannite structure are composed of nanosheets with the thickness of about 50 nm while CCTS nanocrystals with wurtzite structure exhibit large number of irregular nanoparticles. Furthermore, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy are used to investigate optical and photocatalytic properties of CCTS nanocrystals. When CCTS nanocrystals with stannite and wurtzite structure are used as photocatalysts, the degradation of methylene blue can reach up to 72 and 53%, respectively, within 100 min under visible-light irradiation, which are suitable for effective visible-light photocatalysts.

Morphological evolution of carnation flower-like Cu2CoSnS4 battery-type electrodes

“…The synthesis of Cu 2 CoSnS 4 has been previously achieved by many approaches, for example, thin film via electrodeposition, 27 hydrothermal 28 and solvothermal methods. 29 The solvothermal method is optimal for monitoring and tailoring the size, shape, and morphology of materials. The wet-chemical synthetic strategy using water and an organic solvent as a medium for the solvothermal route was adapted to synthesize the quaternary metal sulfide Cu 2 CoSnS 4 at different times and to study its morphological variations.…”

“…Synthesis of Cu2CoSnS4 was succeeded by many approaches previously for example thin film via electrodeposition [27], hydrothermal [28] and solvothermal methods [29]. Nevertheless, the solvothermal method is optimal for monitoring and tailoring control over size, shape, and morphological effects.…”