Novel route for simplified and efficient synthesis of spiky-like copper sulfide nanoballs by soft chemistry method and their basic physicochemical characterizations

Abstract

Growth of copper sulfide nanoparticles using two different methods is reported in the present investigation. The first reaction was carried out by applying half an hour of heating in constant temperature water bath while in the second case the mixture was sonicated. As copper and sulfur sources, copper nitrate and thiourea solutions were used respectively. Main physicochemical properties of the synthesized samples were studied using various characterization techniques. Formation of copper sulfide with hexagonal crystalline structure was corroborated, coinciding with previously reported values for covellite. The most relevant results corresponded to the un sonicated sample, which exhibited spiky-like nanoballs morphology and better size distribution. Optical tests revealed band gaps of 1.69 and 2.05 eV, while photoluminescence emissions at 421 and 430 nm, showing promising possibilities for applications in solar cells, catalysis and optoelectronic devices.