Solution-liquid-solid growth of CuInTe2 nanowires as lithium-ion battery anodes

Highlights: • CuInTe₂ nanowires are synthesized via the bismuth (Bi)-seeded solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth. • Analysis for electrical properties and surface area is proposed for these ternary system CuInTe₂ nanowires. • CuInTe₂ nanowires as an anode material in the lithium ion batteries have an attractive discharge capacity of 385 mAh/g at 5C. For the first time, CuInTe₂ nanowires in I–III–VI₂ chalcopyrite ternary system were synthesized via the bismuth (Bi)-seeded solution-liquid-solid (SLS) growth under 350 °C. CuInTe₂ nanowires were made by using the mixture of Cu(acac)₂, InCl₃ and Te powder as precursors, bismuth 2-ethylhexanoate [Bi[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃] as growth seed solution and tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP) as solvents, respectively. As-made CuInTe₂ nanowires are single crystals with a tetragonal chalcopyrite structure with diameters ranging from 10 to 200 nm. In addition, as an anode material in the lithium ion batteries, the capacity of CuInTe₂ nanowires in charging/discharging rate of 0.1C capacity of 780 mAh/g after 200 cycles (1C = 572 mAh/g), showing the accomplished reversibility. Furthermore, the discharge capacity (385 mAh/g) at 5C rate is still higher than the theoretical capacity of graphite (372 mAh/g), showing the attractive performance in the fast charging/discharging rates.