Synthesis and characterization of ternary AgInS2nanocrystals by dual- and multiple-source methods

Abstract

The precursors [In(bipy)(SC{O}Ph)₃] and [Ag(SC{O}Ph)] have been used to prepare monodispersed polyhedral shaped AgInS₂ nanocrystals (NCs). The NCs were fully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The synthesis of AgInS₂ NCs was further investigated by varying the dual- and multiple-source precursors and other parameters such as surfactants, surfactant ratio, temperature and time duration, to optimize the conditions to get better quality NCs. In all these reactions, a heterobimetallic thiobenzoate intermediate similar to the single-source precursor [(Ph₃P)₂AgIn(SC{O}Ph)₄] has been proposed to have formed which decompose subsequently to AgInS₂ NCs.