Preparation and Characterization of Flower-like Cu2SnS3 Nanostructures by Solvothermal Route

Flower-like Cu2SnS3 nanostructures composed of nano-flakes were successfully synthesized by solvothermal technique at 180 °C for 16 h. In the preparation process, CuCl2·2H2O, SnCl2·2H2O and thiourea were used as raw materials, and ethylene glycol were used as solvent. The results showed that the obtained product was pure phase Cu2SnS3. The average diameter of Cu2SnS3 flowers and the thickness of the nano-flakes were about 1–1.5 μm and 10 nm, respectively. The influence of reaction time and solvents on the morphology, size and structure of the products was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction and field-emission scan electron microscopy (FESEM). The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrum measurement indicated that the band gap of the sample was about 1.26 eV and could be applied to the absorbing layer of thin solar cell. The possible formation mechanism of flower-like Cu2SnS3 was also proposed and discussed.