Influence of synthesis parameters on the physical properties of Cu3Se2 nanostructures using the sonochemical method

Abstract

Abstract Copper selenide (Cu3Se2) nanostructures were grown by reaction of copper acetate and sodium selenide in a solvent of distilled water and ethanol at a temperature of 80 °C using the sonochemical method. In this study, the change of molarity, time, and power of ultrasonication waves was investigated on the physical properties of Cu3Se2 nanostructures. Cu3Se2 nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), photoluminescence (PL), and UV–Vis spectroscopies. In this study the optimized conditions were selected as 30 min, 200 W, 1:2 for time, ultrasonic power, and molar ratio of Cu:Se, respectively. The XRD patterns and EDX results represent the formation of tetragonal Cu3Se2 phase and the presence of Cu and Se elements in the samples. FESEM images showed nanostructures in the form of spherical agglomerated particles. The results of the PL showed the effect of time, power, and molarity parameters on the appearance of different emission peaks. In all samples, the relative absorption ratio corresponded to the energy band gap such that with the increase in the time and power of ultrasound and the relative change in molarity, the relative absorption, and energy band gap were changed.