Solution-liquid-solid growth of ternary Cu-In-Se semiconductor nanowires from multiple- and single-source precursors

Ternary CuInSe₂ nanowires were synthesized for the first time by the solution-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism. Here, both metal-organic multiple- and single-source molecular precursors were thermally decomposed in the presence of molten metal nanoparticles and coordinating ligands. The nature of the precursorsmultiple- compared to single-source (wherein Cu-Se-In bonds are effectively preformed)sas well as the choice of coordinating ligands, reaction temperature, and reactant order-of-addition strongly affected the morphology and composition of the reaction product obtained. Crystalline, straight, and nearly stoichiometric CuInSe₂ nanowires were most readily achieved using the single-source precursor; however, careful tuning of reaction conditions could also be used to obtain high-quality nanowires from multiple-source precursor systems. The CuInSe2 nanowires are strong light absorbers from the near-infrared through the visible and ultraviolet spectral regions and, thereby, comprise new soluble and processable "building blocks" for applications in solar-light harvesting.