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Metastable Tetragonal Cu2Se Hyperbranched Structures: Large-Scale Preparation and Tunable Electrical and Optical Response Regulated by Phase Conversion.
- Source :
- Chemistry - A European Journal; Oct2012, Vol. 18 Issue 41, p13213-13221, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Despite the promising applications of copper selenide nanoparticles, an in-depth elucidation of the inherent properties of tetragonal Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se (β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se) has not been performed because of the lack of a facile synthesis on the nanoscale and an energy-intensive strategy is usually employed. In this work, a facile wet-chemical strategy, employing HCOOH as reducing agent, has been developed to access single-crystalline metastable β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se hyperbranched architectures for the first time. The process avoids hazardous chemistry and high temperatures, and thus opens up a facile approach to the large-scale low-cost preparation of metastable β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se hyperbranched architectures. A possible growth mechanism to explain the formation of the β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se dendritic morphology has been proposed based on time-dependent shape evolution. Further investigations revealed that the metastable β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se can convert into the thermodynamically more stable cubic α-Cu<subscript>2− x</subscript>Se maintaining the dendritic morphology. An increase in electrical conductivity and a tunable optical response were observed under ambient conditions. This behavior can be explained by the oxidation of the surface of the β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se hyperbranched structures, ultimately leading to solid-state phase conversion from β-Cu<subscript>2</subscript>Se into superionic conductor α-Cu<subscript>1.8</subscript>Se, which has potential applications in energy-related devices and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09476539
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 41
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Chemistry - A European Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 80730030
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201200899