Colloidal synthesis of Cu2SnSe3 nanocrystals

While Cu₂SnSe₃ material has various potential applications including acousto-optics and photovoltaics, preparation methods of this material only in a bulk form or a thin film have been reported so far. In this work, for the first time, we demonstrate that highly crystalline Cu₂SnSe₃ nanoparticles can be prepared via colloidal synthesis. The Cu₂SnSe₃ nanocrystals have a cubic crystal structure with a lattice parameter of 5.68 Å, an average diameter of 18 nm, and an atomic ratio of approximately 2:1:3. The nanocrystals can be stably suspended in solution for several months. The suspended nanocrystalline form of Cu₂SnSe₃ could potentially be useful for printable acousto-optic and photovoltaic applications.