Cu(2)ZnSnS(4)-Pt and Cu(2)ZnSnS(4)-Au heterostructured nanoparticles for photocatalytic water splitting and pollutant degradation

J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Jul 2;136(26):9236-9. doi: 10.1021/ja502076b. Epub 2014 Jun 19.

Abstract

Cu2ZnSnS4, based on abundant and environmental friendly elements and with a direct band gap of 1.5 eV, is a main candidate material for solar energy conversion through both photovoltaics and photocatalysis. We detail here the synthesis of quasi-spherical Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles with unprecedented narrow size distributions. We further detail their use as seeds to produce CZTS-Au and CZTS-Pt heterostructured nanoparticles. Such heterostructured nanoparticles are shown to have excellent photocatalytic properties toward degradation of Rhodamine B and hydrogen generation by water splitting.