Ag2S-catalyzed growth of quaternary AgInZn7S9 semiconductor nanowires in solution

Abstract

A facile and inexpensive solution-based synthesis of quaternary AgInZn₇S₉ nanowires was developed. Structural and compositional characterizations were carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-synthesized AgInZn₇S₉ nanowires have high quality and moderate band structure. The growth mechanism is also investigated. It is confirmed that Ag₂S nanoparticles derived from the decomposition of precursor Ag(dedc) act as a catalyst during the growth of quaternary nanowires. The catalysts in this process were found to be in a quasi-liquid state and only the surface region of the catalysts melted, which is different from the liquid state in the typical Solution–Liquid–Solid growth process.