Tunable optical performance in nanosized AgInS2-ZnS solid solution heterostructures due to the precursor's ratio modification

Abstract

Solid solution AgInS2-ZnS nanostructures were prepared by reacting (Z)-1- (octadec-9-enyl)-3-phenylthiourea and 1-dodecanethiol with the corresponding metal linoleates. The combination of sulfur sources in modified ratios, which individually do not lead to significant results, resulted in the successful formation of nanorod-shaped heterostructures. The effect of sulfur source ratios on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of yellow-red emitting nanocrystals was systematically studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyzes. Nanocomposite materials based on polyvinyl toluene co-divinylbenzene (PVT-DVB) were investigated for each of the resulting nanostructures. It was demonstrated that even traces of nanomaterial (similar to 0.1 wt. %) provide a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY up to 61.5%) of prepared nanocomposites.