Diversified copper sulfide (Cu2−xS) micro-/nanostructures: a comprehensive review on synthesis, modifications and applications

• Published in: Nanoscale 2017-08, Vol.9 (32), p.11357-1144
• Main Authors: Sun, Shaodong, Li, Pengju, Liang, Shuhua, Yang, Zhimao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2040-3364; 2040-3372
• DOI: 10.1039/c7nr03828c

As a significant metal chalcogenide, copper sulfide (Cu 2− x S, 0 < x < 1), with a unique semiconducting and nontoxic nature, has received significant attention over the past few decades. Extensive investigations have been employed to the various Cu 2− x S micro-/nanostructures owing to their excellent optoelectronic behavior, potential thermoelectric properties, and promising biomedical applications. As a result, micro-/nanostructured Cu 2− x S with well-controlled morphologies, sizes, crystalline phases, and compositions have been rationally synthesized and applied in the fields of photocatalysis, energy conversion, in vitro biosensing, and in vivo imaging and therapy. However, a comprehensive review on diversified Cu 2− x S micro-/nanostructures is still lacking; therefore, there is an imperative need to thoroughly highlight the new advances made in function-directed Cu 2− x S-based nanocomposites. In this review, we have summarized the important progress made in the diversified Cu 2− x S micro-/nanostructures, including that in the synthetic strategies for the preparation of 0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D micro-/nanostructures (including polyhedral, hierarchical, hollow architectures, and superlattices) and in the development of modified Cu 2− x S-based composites for enhanced performance, as well as their various applications. Furthermore, the present issues and promising research directions are briefly discussed. In this review, we highlight the important progress made in the diversified Cu 2− x S micro-/nanostructures, including synthesis strategies, formation mechanisms, functional modifications and potential applications. Several emerging issues and perspective are also given.