A mild biomolecule-assisted route for preparation of flower-like AgBiS2 crystals

A mild biomolecule-assisted route for preparation of flower-like AgBiS2 crystals was developed via reactions among AgNO3, BiCl3, and l-cystine in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 200 °C for 12 h. l-cystine was used as both the sulfide source and complexing agent. The as-synthesized AgBiS2 crystals were characterized by XRD, EDS, XPS, PL, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, and SAED. Results showed that the synthesized AgBiS2 crystals had stoichiometric composition, good crystallinity, and flower-like morphology. A possible formation mechanism for flower-like AgBiS2 crystals was also discussed based on the experiment.

► We report for the first time a simple biomolecule-assisted solvothermal route using l-cystine as sulfur source and complexing agent to synthesis AgBiS2 crystals.
► The possible mechanisms leading to sphere-like AgBiS2 crystals were proposed.
► Morphology, structure, phase composition and optical property of the as-prepared AgBiS2 products were investigated in detail.