Controllable Synthesis of Bandgap-Tunable CuSx Se(1-x) Nanoplate Alloys

Composition engineering is an important approach for modulating the physical properties of alloyed semiconductors. In this work, ternary CuS(x)Se(1-x) nanoplates over the entire composition range of 0≤x≤1 have been controllably synthesized by means of a simple aqueous solution method at low temperature (90 °C). Reaction of Cu(2+) cations with polysulfide/-selenide ((S(n)Se(m))(2-)) anions rather than independent S(n)(2-) and Se(m)(2-) anions is responsible for the low-temperature and rapid synthesis of CuS(x)Se(1-x) alloys, and leads to higher S/Se ratios in the alloys than that in reactants owing to different dissociation energies of the Se-Se and the S-S bonds. The lattice parameters 'a' and 'c' of the hexagonal CuS(x)Se(1-x) alloys decrease linearly, whereas the direct bandgaps increase quadratically along with the S content. Direct bandgaps of the alloys can be tuned over a wide range from 1.64 to 2.19 eV. Raman peaks of the S-Se stretching mode are observed, thus further confirming formation of the alloyed CuS(x)Se(1-x) phase.