Shape‐Controlled Synthesis of High‐Quality Cu7S4 Nanocrystals for Efficient Light‐Induced Water Evaporation

Copper sulfides (Cu_2–xS), are a novel kind of photothermal material exhibiting significant photothermal conversion efficiency, making them very attractive in various energy conversion related devices. Preparing high quality uniform Cu_2‐xS nanocrystals (NCs) is a top priority for further energy‐and sustainability relevant nanodevices. Here, a shape‐controlled high quality Cu₇S₄ NCs synthesis strategy is reported using sulfur in 1‐octadecene as precursor by varying the heating temperature, as well as its forming mechanism. The performance of the Cu₇S₄ NCs is further explored for light‐driven water evaporation without the need of heating the bulk liquid to the boiling point, and the results suggest that as‐synthesized highly monodisperse NCs perform higher evaporation rate than polydisperse NCs under the identical morphology. Furthermore, disk‐like NCs exhibit higher water evaporation rate than spherical NCs. The water evaporation rate can be further enhanced by assembling the organic phase Cu₇S₄ NCs into a dense film on the aqueous solution surface. The maximum photothermal conversion efficiency is as high as 77.1%.