We report the colloidal synthesis of monodisperse phase pure chalcostibite CuSbS 2 nanocrystals in high boiling point solvent. The use of dodecanethiol as ligands had an advantage over oleylamine on avoiding the hydrolysis of Sb precursor. The effect of reaction temperature and Cu/Sb feed molar ratio on the synthesis of copper antimony sulfide nanocrystals in dodecanethiol system was investigated. As a result of the reactivity difference between Cu and Sb precursors, the formation of CuSbS 2 nanocrystals involves the preferential nucleation of Cu-rich nanocrystals and their subsequent reaction with remaining Sb precursors. The band gap of the resulting CuSbS 2 nanocrystals was measured to be ~1.59 eV.
The excellent electrochemical performance of greigite (Fe3S4) coupled with its vast abundance and low toxicity make it a good prospect as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this research, a simple and feasible approach for producing pure phase, small sized, shape-controllable, and stable Fe3S4 nanoplates (NPs) through hot injection of sulfur solution into Fe(III) solution was demonstrated. The growth of Fe3S4 NPs involves the primary formation of a pyrite (FeS2) nucleus and subsequent Fe(III) doping. The lateral size of the Fe3S4 NPs was controlled further by tuning the experimental variable-dependent reactivity of Fe sources in the nucleation and growth stage. The Fe3S4 NPs embedded in LIBs present a low electrochemical resistance and are highly active in lithiation/delithiation processes.