Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals with photocatalytic properties

Abstract

As a low cost and environment-friendly solar absorber material, Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) has aroused great interest for both photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. The development of low temperature and green chemical route for the preparation of this quaternary sulfide compound still remains a challenge. In the present study, we present a surfactant-free hydrothermal method for the preparation of CZTS nanocrystals with an average size of 12 nm and photoactivity in hydrogen production. Ammonia was proposed to play a key role in confining the particle sizes. The properties of the CZTS nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, Raman, XPS, TEM, and UV-vis absorption. The photocatalytic properties of the as-synthesized CZTS nanoparticles were tested both in thin films and in slurry systems.