A colloidal synthesis of CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 and CuIn1-xGaxSe2 nanoparticles from diisopropyldiselenophosphinatometal precursors

CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 and CuIn(1-x)Ga xSe2 (CIGS) nanoparticles were synthesised from the diisopropyldiselenophosphinatometal complexes Mx[iPr 2PSe2]n (M = Cu(i), In(iii), Ga(iii); n = 1, 3) by thermal decomposition of the precursors in HDA/TOP at 120-210 °C or 250 °C. The semiconductor nanoparticles obtained were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The diameters of the nanoparticles for CuInSe2, CuGaSe2 and CuIn0.7Ga0.3Se2 were found to be 4.9 ± 0.6 nm (at 180 °C), 13.5 ± 2.9 nm (at 250 °C) and 14 ± 2.22 nm (at 250 °C) respectively. The p-XRD patterns for the nanoparticulate samples were assigned to the corresponding ICDD patterns for tetragonal chalcopyrite phase. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.