2D nanocrystalline ternary selenides Cu₂MSe₄ (M = Mo/W)

A high-temperature metathesis reaction between CuBr and [Ph₄P]₂MSe₄ (M = Mo or W) gave rise to nanocrystalline Cu₂MSe₄ with a phase-pure M = Mo compound that was obtained for the first time. After exploring the formation mechanism, we found that the sub-stoichiometric ratios of CuBr to MSe₄^2- resulted in the formation of a linear byproduct impurity, [Ph₄P]CuMSe₄ (M = Mo or W). However, excess CuBr selectively steered the reaction to the desired Cu₂MSe₄. As a consequence of the newfound similarity in the reaction conditions for both metals, we have demonstrated the applicability of this method towards a mixed Mo/W quaternary composition.