Fabrication of CuS nanocrystals with various morphologies in the presence of a nonionic surfactant

Shape-controlled synthesis of CuS nanorods, nanoflakes, and flowerlike structures has been achieved simply in the presence of a nonionic surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG20000) by adjusting hydrothermal temperature. The as-synthesized CuS nanocrystals were investigated by various techniques of XRD, TEM, SEM, and UV–vis spectra. The electron diffraction pattern indicated that the CuS nanoflakes were single crystals. In the process, the temperature and the surfactant PEG20000 were found to play important roles in determining the morphology of CuS nanocrystals.