Rapid synthesis of CuInTe2 ultrathin nanoplates with enhanced photoelectrochemical properties

Abstract

Ultrathin (2.1 ± 0.1 nm) single-crystal CuInTe₂ two-dimensional (2D) nanoplates were synthesized via a rapid colloidal synthesis method. The growth mechanism was investigated in detail. Crystal seeds grew via a 2D assembly process of initially formed small CuInTe₂ nanoparticles followed by recrystallization into single crystal nanoplates. The obtained CuInTe₂ nanoplates exhibited significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical properties compared with the CuInTe₂ nanoparticles, benefitting from their ultrathin 2D characteristics.