The SEM and TEM images (Figure 2a,b) show that the as-synthesized product consists of hexagonal nanoplates. These nanoplates have a diameter of 70 to 350 nm and a thickness of ca. 20 nm. As shown in Figure 2c, the HRTEM image taken from the face of nanoplates exhibits clear lattice fringes with spacings of 0.33 nm, assigning to (10–10) planes of wurtzite CGS. The corresponding FFT pattern (Figure 2d) displays the bright spots with sixfold symmetry, consistent with the hexagonal wurtzite structure of CGS. Furthermore,

HRTEM image was also CHIR-99021 mouse taken from the sides of nanoplates, as shown in Figure 2e. The AB-stacking of the layers in the hexagonal domains and the ABC-stacking in the cubic domains are clearly distinguishable in the HRTEM image shown in Figure 2e, which suggests the coexistence of wurtzite and zincblende structures within each nanoplate. Therefore, the crystal phase of the as-synthesized

nanoplates is wurtzite-zincblende polytypism, wherein the hexagonal wurtzite domains are interfaced with the cubic zincblende domains across (0002)WZ/(111)ZB stacking faults. This crystal structure of CGS nanoplates is similar selleck kinase inhibitor to that of our previously synthesized CuInS2 nanoplates [23]. Figure 2 SEM (a), TEM (b), and HRTEM (c,e) images of as-synthesized product and FFT pattern (d) of (c). In particular, the HRTEM image (c) was taken from the face of nanoplates while the HRTEM image (e) was taken from the sides of nanoplates. The valence states and composition of the as-synthesized nanoplates were studied by XPS, as shown

in Figure 3. The full-scan spectra (Figure 3a) show the presence of the Cu 2p, Ga 2p and S 2p peaks, confirming the presence of these elements in as-synthesized ID-8 nanoplates. The Cu 2p, Ga 2p and S 2p core levels were also examined, respectively. The peaks observed at 931.9 and 951.7 eV, with a peak splitting of 19.8 eV, are indicative of monovalent Cu [23]. The two peaks centered at 1,117 and 1,144 eV, with a peak separation of 27 eV, are attributed to trivalent Ga [20]. The two peaks of S 2p were located at 162.4 and 163.6 eV, with a peak splitting of 1.2 eV, which are consistent with the literature values in metal sulfides [24]. Through quantification of peaks, the molar ratio of Cu/Ga/S of 1.22:1:1.93 is given, indicating that the as-synthesized nanoplates are Cu-rich with respect to the stoichiometric CGS. Figure 3 XPS of as-synthesized nanoplates: (a) a survey spectrum, (b) Cu 2 p , (c) Ga 2 p , and (d) S 2 p . In our synthesis, metal chlorides (CuCl and GaCl3) could react with 1-dodecanethiol to form metal thiolates, which then decomposed into nanocrystals at elevated temperature [9, 23]. When heating a mixture of CuCl, GaCl3, 1-dodecanethiol, and 1-octadecene to 140°C, a clear yellow solution formed, suggesting the formation of metal thiolates because of the reaction between metal chlorides and 1-dodecanethiol.