Monodispersed wurtzite Cu 2 SnS 3 nanocrystals by phosphine and oleylamine free facile heat-up technique

Wurtzite Cu2SnS3 (CTS) nanocrystals with an average size 8.5 nm were prepared for the first time by a phosphine and oleylamine free facile one-step thermolysis method. The as-prepared nanocrystals were investigated for structural, morphological and compositional properties. The advantages of the heat-up technique for a swift synthesis of gram scale, phase pure CTS nanocrystals; applicable for various energy devices like solar cell, batteries etc., are discussed. Nanocrystals were synthesized at different reaction times viz. 10, 20 and 30 minutes. The possible growth mechanism for colloidal CTS nanocrystals has been investigated. Herein we observed that CTS nanocrystals growth starts with the formation of copper sulphide nanoparticles, acting as nuclei for the subsequent growth of CTS nanocrystals. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of phase pure wurtzite CTS nanocrystals w…