Influence of silver precursor concentration on structural, optical and morphological properties of Cu1-xAgxInS2 semiconductor nanocrystals

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2017-12, Vol.729, p.407-417
• Main Authors: Neela Mohan, C., Renuga, V., Manikandan, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Band gap; Copper compounds; Cu1-xAgxInS2 nanocrystals; Energy transmission; Hot-injection method; HR-TEM; Nanocrystals; Near infrared radiation; NIR-region; Optical properties; Precursors; Silver; X-ray diffraction; XRD
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.09.078

Near-Infrared (NIR)-emitting Cu1-xAgxInS2 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mmol) semiconductor nanocrystals were synthesized from CuCl, AgNO3 and InCl3 precursors by varying the concentrations of silver precursor (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) using 1-dodecanethiol as capping agent by hot injection method. In CuInS2 host lattice, the incorporation of Ag+ ions can be identified by the change of color from black (CuInS2) to dark brown (AgInS2). The absorption band-edge of the synthesized nanocrystal has shifted to blue-shift by changing the silver composition in Cu1-xAgxInS2 nanocrystals. The optical band gap (Egop) of synthesized nanocrystals increased with incremental change of silver ion concentrations. The structural, morphological and elemental compositions of the synthesized nanocrystals were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analysis. [Display omitted] •NIR emitting-Cu1-xAgxInS2 nanocrystals were prepared by hot injection method.•Optical and Electrochemical bandgap were investigated.•CuInS2 and AgInS2 are hexagonal crystal structure.•Morphology of the nanocrystals changed from hexagonal-plate (CuInS2) to pyramid (AgInS2).