Facile synthesis of CuInS2 nanoparticles using different alcohol amines as solvent

Highlights: • Alcohol amines were applied as new solvent to prepare CuInS₂ nanoparticles. • Chalcopyrite and wurtzite phases co-existed in the products with triethanolamine as solvent. • Pure-phase wurtzite CuInS₂ nanoplates were synthesized using monoethanolamine as solvent. • The synthesis can accomplish at 140 °C in 5 min with PEG as surfactant. • The mild processing conditions are beneficial for massive production of CuInS₂ nano-materials. Alcohol amine system was applied as new solvent to prepare CuInS₂ (CIS₂) nanoparticles via a facile hot-injection method. The phase structure and morphology of synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It turned out that pure-phase wurtzite CIS₂ nanoplates can be synthesized at a low temperature of 140 °C within 5 min with monoethanolamine as solvent and PEG as surfactant, while chalcopyrite and wurtzite phases co-existed in CIS₂ products obtained using triethanolamine as the solvent. This work suggested alcohol amine as a cheap, green and effective solvent for the preparation of CIS₂ nanoparticles.