Controlled synthesis of AgInS₂ nanocrystals and their application in organic-inorganic hybrid photodetectors

High quality AgInS₂ nanocrystals (NCs) are synthesized using a simple single-source precursor method, in which the size and morphology of the products can be precisely controlled from heliotrope seed-like NCs of 6 × 12 nm to heliotrope seed-like dimer NCs of 8 × 16 nm by tuning the composition of the coordinating solvents of oleic acid and 1-dodecanethiol. The results show that 1-dodecanethiol plays a dominant role in determining the morphology of AgInS₂ NCs due to its strong absorption onto the {001} crystal plane of AgInS₂ NCs. The photoelectric properties of the as-prepared AgInS₂ NCs have been characterized using AgInS ₂-poly(3-hexylthiophene) hybrid nanodevices. The results illustrate that the AgInS₂ NCs present very high photosensitivity and photostability to outside illumination. The high sensitivity and stability of the hybrid nanodevice indicate a broad spectrum of applications in the photoelectric nanodevices.