Morphology-Dependent Properties of Semiconducting SnS Nanomaterials and Evidence for a Structural Distortion at the Nanoscale

POSTER

Abstract

The synthesis of semiconducting nanomaterials with controlled size, structure, and morphology using solution-based methods has emerged as an active field of research due to their excellent properties. Tin(II) sulfide is a intermediate band gap semiconductor that has received markedly less attention than other related compounds despite its non-toxic and earth-abundant constituent elements, as well as its comparably low cost and favorable electronic properties. Here we present a novel route for the solution synthesis of 2D SnS nanosheets as well as monodisperse 0D colloidal SnS nanocubes and spherical nanopolyhedra. The sheets are $\sim$ 270 nm squares with an orthorhombic crystal structure matching that of bulk $\alpha $-SnS. The cubes and spherical polyhedra are $\sim$ 10 nm, below the exciton Bohr radius of SnS, allowing them to act as ``quantum dots.'' An inability to reconcile incongruences in the diffraction patterns of the 0D nanocrystals with the 2D nanosheets leads us to propose that these SnS quantum dots crystallize in a distorted pseudotetragonal structure, which is confirmed by detailed crystallographic characterization and modeling. We interrogate the optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of these materials to display that they are size-, shape-, and structure-dependent.

Authors

  • Adam J. Biacchi

    NIST

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University