Preparation of monoclinic Cu2SnS3 single crystal by chemical vapor transport with iodine

• Bulk crystal of Cu2SnS3 was prepared by chemical vapor transport using iodine.
• A stoichiometrically balanced Cu2SnS3 with Cu:Sn:S=2.05:1.01:2.94 was prepared using an iodine concentration of 2.0 mg/cm3.
• Raman scattering and XRD analyses showed that the sample was formed a monoclinic structure.
• The crystal was confirmed to be a single crystal by selected-area electron diffraction patterns, which showed a regular array of spots.

Single crystals of monoclinic Cu2SnS3 (CTS) were prepared by chemical vapor transport using iodine as a transport agent. A range of iodine concentrations from 1.5 to 3.0 mg/cm3 was employed to determine its effect on crystal growth. The crystals were quenched after vapor transport to prevent the growth of additional, secondary CTS phases. A stoichiometrically balanced CTS product (with a composition ratio of Cu:Sn:S=2.05:1.01:2.94) was achieved using an iodine concentration of 2.0 mg/cm3. The results of Raman scattering and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the samples were CTS crystals with a monoclinic structure. The sample was confirmed to be a single crystal by selected-area electron diffraction patterns, which showed a regular array of spots consistent with monoclinic CTS.

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