Metastable Tetragonal Cu2Se Hyperbranched Structures: Large-Scale Preparation and Tunable Electrical and Optical Response Regulated by Phase Conversion

Hydrangea-Like CuS with Irreversible Amorphization Transition for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Storage

Metal sulfides have been intensively investigated for efficient sodium-ion storage due to their high capacity. However, the mechanisms behind the reaction pathways and phase transformation are still unclear. Moreover, the effects of designed nanostructure on the electrochemical behaviors are rarely reported. Herein, a hydrangea-like CuS microsphere is prepared via a facile synthetic method and displays significantly enhanced rate and cycle performance. Unlike the traditional intercalation and conversion reactions, an irreversible amorphization process is evidenced and elucidated with the help of in situ high-resolution synchrotron radiation diffraction analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The oriented (006) crystal plane growth of the primary CuS nanosheets provide more channels and adsorption sites for Na ions intercalation and the resultant low overpotential is beneficial for the amorphous Cu-S cluster, which is consistent with the density functional theory calculation. This study can offer new insights into the correlation between the atomic-scale phase transformation and macro-scale nanostructure design and open a new principle for the electrode materials' design.

High-performance and low thermal conductivity in nano-layered Cu2Se prepared by a NaCl-flux method

In this study, a nano-layered Cu₂Se high-performance material is successfully grown using a NaCl-flux method based on the stoichiometric ratios of Cu₂Se(NaCl)_x (x = 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5).

A Solution Processable High-Performance Thermoelectric Copper Selenide Thin Film

A solid-state thermoelectric device is attractive for diverse technological areas such as cooling, power generation and waste heat recovery with unique advantages of quiet operation, zero hazardous emissions, and long lifetime. With the rapid growth of flexible electronics and miniature sensors, the low-cost flexible thermoelectric energy harvester is highly desired as a potential power supply. Herein, a flexible thermoelectric copper selenide (Cu₂ Se) thin film, consisting of earth-abundant elements, is reported. The thin film is fabricated by a low-cost and scalable spin coating process using ink solution with a truly soluble precursor. The Cu₂ Se thin film exhibits a power factor of 0.62 mW/(m K² ) at 684 K on rigid Al₂ O₃ substrate and 0.46 mW/(m K² ) at 664 K on flexible polyimide substrate, which is much higher than the values obtained from other solution processed Cu₂ Se thin films (<0.1 mW/(m K² )) and among the highest values reported in all flexible thermoelectric films to date (≈0.5 mW/(m K² )). Additionally, the fabricated thin film shows great promise to be integrated with the flexible electronic devices, with negligible performance change after 1000 bending cycles. Together, the study demonstrates a low-cost and scalable pathway to high-performance flexible thin film thermoelectric devices from relatively earth-abundant elements.

Enhanced Thermoelectricity in High-Temperature β-Phase Copper(I) Selenides Embedded with Cu2Te Nanoclusters

We report remarkably enhanced thermoelectric performance of Te doped Cu2Se in midtemperature range. Through ball-milling process followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS), nanoscale Cu2Te clusters were embeded in the matrix of Cu2Se, inducing a drastic enhancement of thermoelectric performance by reducing the thermal conductivity without degrading the power factor. A large ZT value of 1.9 was achieved at 873 K for Cu2Se1.9Te0.1, which is about 2 times larger than that of the pure Cu2Se. The nanoscale heat management by Cu2Te nanoclusters in superionic conductors opens up an avenue for thermoelectric materials research.

Visible-light photocatalysis in Cu2Se nanowires with exposed {111} facets and charge separation between (111) and (1[combining macron]1[combining macron]1[combining macron]) polar surfaces

The search for active narrow band gap semiconductor photocatalysts that directly split water or degrade organic pollutants under solar irradiation remains an open issue. We synthesized Cu2Se nanowires with exposed {111} facets using ethanol and glycerol as morphology controlling agents. The {111} facets were found to be the active facets for decomposing organic contaminants in the entire solar spectrum. Based on the polar structure of the Cu2Se {111} facets, a charge separation model between polar (111) and (1[combining macron]1[combining macron]1[combining macron]) surfaces is proposed. The internal electric field between polar (111) and (1[combining macron]1[combining macron]1[combining macron]) surfaces created by spontaneous polarization drives charge separation. The reduction and oxidation reactions occur on the positive (111) and negative (1[combining macron]1[combining macron]1[combining macron]) polar surfaces, respectively. This suggests the surface-engineering of narrow band gap semiconductors as a strategy to fabricate photocatalysts with high reactivity in the entire solar spectrum. The charge separation model can deepen the understanding of charge transfer in other semiconductor nanocrystals with high photocatalytic activities and offer guidance to design more effective photocatalysts as well as new types of solar cells, photoelectrodes and photoelectric devices.

Controlled synthesis of CuS caved superstructures and their application to the catalysis of organic dye degradation in the absence of light

CuS caved superstructures with a variety of sizes and regular shapes were synthesized by an innovative one-pot method, which showed excellent catalytic properties evaluated by degradation of methylene blue (MB) without light.

Room-temperature synthesis of Cu(2-x)E (E = S, Se) nanotubes with hierarchical architecture as high-performance counter electrodes of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Copper chalcogenide nanostructures (e.g. one-dimensional nanotubes) have been the focus of interest because of their unique properties and great potential in various applications. Their current fabrications mainly rely on high-temperature or complicated processes. Here, with the assistance of theoretical prediction, we prepared Cu(2-x)E (E = S, Se) micro-/nanotubes (NTs) with a hierarchical architecture by using copper nanowires (Cu NWs), stable sulfur and selenium powder as precursors at room temperature. The influence of reaction parameters (e.g. precursor ratio, ligands, ligand ratio, and reaction time) on the formation of nanotubes was comprehensively investigated. The resultant Cu(2-x)E (E = S, Se) NTs were used as counter electrodes (CE) of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) to achieve a conversion efficiency (η) of 5.02 and 6.25%, respectively, much higher than that of QDSSCs made with Au CE (η = 2.94%).

Tetragonal Cu2Se nanoflakes: synthesis using selenated propylamine as Se source and activation of Suzuki and Sonogashira cross coupling reactions

The metastable tetragonal Cu2Se phase as nanoflakes has been synthesized for the first time by treating CuCl2 taken in a mixture (1:1) of 1-octadecene and oleylamine with H2N-(CH2)3-SePh dissolved in 1-octadecene. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), HRTEM, SEM-EDX and XPS have been used to authenticate the nanoflakes. The XPS of Cu2Se nanoflakes indicates oxidation states of Cu and Se as +1 and -2 respectively. The size of the majority of Cu2Se nanoflakes was found to be between 12 and 14 nm. The nanoflakes have been explored for Suzuki and Sonogashira cross coupling reactions in the presence of TBAB in DMF and DMSO respectively. For Suzuki coupling conversion was found upto ∼86% in 15 h at 110 °C when loading of Cu was 1 mol%. In case of Sonogashira coupling conversion was found upto 82% in 15 h at 160 °C (Cu loading: 1 mol%). The catalytic efficiency of Cu2Se nanoflakes for Suzuki coupling reaction is greater than that for Sonogashira coupling. These nanoflakes have been found reusable for a second time. Most probably TBAB facilitates the release of CuBr from the nanoflakes which catalyze both reactions, as catalytic efficiency is very low in the absence of TBAB and CuBr has been found to activate readily both the coupling reactions. In comparison to many other copper based nano-crystals, the present nanoflakes are a better activator.

Synthesis of Ultrathin and Thickness-Controlled Cu2-xSe Nanosheets via Cation Exchange

We demonstrate the use of cation exchange to synthesize ultrathin and thickness-controlled Cu2-xSe nanosheets (NSs) beginning with CdSe NSs. In this manner, extremely thin (i.e., 1.6 nm thickness) Cu2-xSe NSs, beyond which can be made directly, have been obtained. Furthermore, they represent the thinnest NSs produced via cation exchange. Notably, the exchange reaction preserves the starting morphology of the CdSe sheets and also retains their cubic crystal structure. The resulting nonstoichiometric and cubic Cu2-xSe NSs are stable and do not exhibit any signs of Cu or Se oxidation after exposure to air for 2 weeks. Resulting NSs also show the existence of a localized surface plasmon resonance in the infrared due to the presence of copper vacancies. Efforts to isolate intermediates during the cation exchange reaction show that it occurs via a mechanism where entire sheets are rapidly converted into the final product once the exchange reaction commences, precluding the isolation of alloyed species.

Controllable copper deficiency in Cu2-xSe nanocrystals with tunable localized surface plasmon resonance and enhanced chemiluminescence

Copper chalcogenide nanocrystals (CuCNCs) as a type of semiconductor that can also act as efficient catalysts are rarely reported. Herein, we study water-soluble size-controlled Cu(2-x)Se nanocrystals (NCs), which are copper deficient and could be prepared by a redox reaction with the assistance of surfactants. We found them to have strong near-infrared localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties originating from the holes in the valence band, and also catalytic activity of more than a 500-fold enhancement of chemiluminescence (CL) in a luminol-H2O2 system. Investigations into the mechanisms behind these results showed that the high concentration of free carriers in Cu(2-x)Se NCs, which are derived from their high copper deficiencies that make Cu(2-x)Se NCs both good electron donors and acceptors with high ionic mobility, could greatly enhance the catalytic ability of Cu(2-x)Se NCs to facilitate electron-transfer processes and the decomposition of H2O2 into OH˙ and O2(˙-), which are the commonly accepted key intermediates in luminol CL enhancement. Thus, it can be concluded that controllable copper deficiencies that are correlated with their near-infrared LSPR are critically responsible for the effective catalysis of Cu(2-x)Se NCs in the enhanced CL.

Facile microwave-assisted synthesis of Klockmannite CuSe nanosheets and their exceptional electrical properties

Klockmannite copper selenide nanosheets (CuSe NSs) are synthesized by a facile microwave-assisted method and fully characterized. The nanosheets have smooth surface and hexagonal shape. The lateral size is 200–500 nm × 400–800 nm and the thickness is 55 ± 20 nm. The current-voltage characteristics of CuSe NS films show unique Ohmic and high-conducting behaviors, comparable to the thermally-deposited gold electrode. The high electrical conductivity of CuSe NSs implies their promising applications in printed electronics and nanodevices. Moreover, the local electrical variation is observed, for the first time, within an individual CuSe NS at low bias voltages (0.1 ~ 3 V) by conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM). This is ascribed to the quantum size effect of NS and the presence of Schottky barrier. In addition, the influence of the molar ratio of Cu²⁺/SeO₂, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the growth of CuSe NSs is explored. The template effect of oleylamine and the intrinsic crystal nature of CuSe NS are proposed to account for the growth of hexagonal CuSe NSs.

Hydrophilic Cu2−xSe/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with tunable plasmonic properties and their applications in cellular dark-field microscopic imaging

We report a facile and green approach to fabricate Cu_2−xSe/rGO nanocomposites at room temperature, with tunable plasmonic properties as well as favorable biocompatibility, and exploit them for cell imaging in vitro.