Size-controlled synthesis of ultrasmall Cu3VS4 nanocrystals via direct ternary nucleation

Abstract

We report the size-controlled synthesis of ultrasmall (3–8 nm), phase-pure, and stoichiometric Cu₃VS₄ nanocrystals via direct nucleation of the ternary sulvanite phase. An unusual redshift in optical absorption is observed with decreasing size and attributed to the plasmonic-like nature of valence band–intermediate band transitions.