Controllable synthesis of wurtzite Cu(2)ZnSnS(4) nanocrystals by hot-injection approach and growth mechanism studies.

Wurtzite Cu2 ZnSnS4 (WZ-CZTS) has been controllably synthesized through a hot-injection route. The crystal-growth mechanism of WZ-CZTS has been investigated by using time-dependent XRD patterns, TEM images, and absorption spectra analysis, and revealed that WZ-CZTS nucleated and grew from monoclinic Cu7 S4 nanocrystals through phase transformation of Cu7 S4 to WZ-CZTS within 5 min. The synthesis processes are dependent on precursor concentration, reaction temperature, reaction time, organic ligand, and sulfur source and have been studied in detail. It was revealed that the width of the WZ-CZTS nanocrystals was mainly controlled by the precursor concentration, which determines the diameter of Cu7 S4 . The length could be regulated by the ratio of dodecanethiol (DDT) to oleylamine (OLA) and reaction time.