Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research - An Autonomous Institution

Shape-Controlled Template-Driven Growth of Large CuS Hexagonal Nanoplates

Ultrathin 2D metal sulfide nanostructures have revealed extraordinary properties, applications and thus, the subject matter of current research. However, synthesis of shape-controlled large sized (approximately few µms) plates/sheets are not well known, specifically due to the colloidal synthesis process resulting in distribution of shape/size. Here, we report the template-assisted growth of large-sized CuS nanoplates (~ 0.59 µm) by simple wet chemistry, where the Au microplates serve as template. The Au microplates act as seed and facilitate the AuCu via epitaxial growth of Cu. Later, the AuCu acts as the source of Cu and in presence of aqueous S2-, the CuS hexagons form, however, the edge of the hexagons are parallel to the Au seed and thus hinting to be controlled by the seed. Interestingly, the substrate independent AuCu can even provide the platform for the spiral nanoplates, by simply decorating the outer surface of the Cu with pillar like features.

C. Sow, G. Mettela and G. U. Kulkarni

Bull Mater Sci 2020, 43, 323. DOI:10.1007/s12034-020-02294-1