One-pot synthesis of CuFeSe 2 cuboid nanoparticles

Abstract

Ternary semiconducting CuFeSe 2 nanocrystals of a particular shape and size were successfully synthesized using a cost-effective and simple one-pot chemical route. X-ray powder diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the as-synthesized CuFeSe 2 comprised cuboid nanoparticles with dimensions of 50–150 nm as well as a tetragonal phase. Elemental analysis yielded an atomic ratio of Cu:Fe:Se of 1:1.06:2.17. The synthesis temperature and the solvent octadecylamine were significant in determining the structural phases and morphologies of the final products. The optimal condition for synthesizing the tetragonal CuFeSe 2 phase with cuboid nanoparticles was a reaction temperature of 200 °C for 1 h in octadecylamine solvent. A possible mechanism of the formation of ternary CuFeSe 2 nanoparticles with controllable shapes is discussed.