Facile synthesis of ZnS-CuInS2-alloyed nanocrystals for a color-tunable fluorchrome and photocatalyst.

High-quality ZnS-CuInS(2) (ZCIS) alloy nanocrystals have been synthesized via reaction between the acetate salts of the corresponding metals and elemental sulfur in the presence of dodecanethiol in octadecene media at 230 °C. The PL emission wavelength can be tuned conveniently via variation of the stoichiometric ratio of their components. The influence of various experimental variables, including Zn/CuIn ratio, amount of sulfur and dodecanethiol, and reaction temperature, on the optical properties and composition of the obtained ZCIS NCs have been systematically investigated. The plain ZCIS NCs did show PL emission but with quite low PL quantum yield (typically below 3%). In order to improve the PL emission efficiency, the ZnS shell was subsequently overcoated around the ZCIS core NCs. With ZnS shell growth, the PL emission wavelength of the resulting ZCIS/ZnS NCs can cover from 518 to 810 nm with the maximum PL quantum efficiency up to 56%. Furthermore, the obtained ZCIS/ZnS NCs show promising photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B.