Tin Ion Directed Morphology Evolution of Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles and Tuning of Their Plasmonic Properties via Phase Conversion

Langmuir. 2016 Aug 2;32(30):7582-7. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02035. Epub 2016 Jul 21.

Abstract

Copper-deficient copper sulfide (Cu2-xS) nanoparticles (NPs) have been investigated as important hole-based plasmonic materials because of their size, morphology, and carrier density-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties. Morphology and carrier density are two important parameters to determine their LSPR properties. Here, we demonstrate that the foreign metal ion, Sn(4+), directs the growth of djurleite Cu31S16 from nanodisk to tetradecahedron along the [100] direction. To control the LSPR properties by tuning the carrier density, the djurleite Cu31S16 nanoparticles were pseudomorphically converted into more copper-deficient (higher carrier density) roxbyite Cu7S4 NPs by heat treatment in the presence of amine. The roxbyite Cu7S4 NPs exhibited a shorter and stronger LSPR peak while retaining the morphology of the djurleite Cu31S16 NPs.