A micro-interface route to CuS superstructure composed of intersectional nanoplates

Copper sulfide (CuS) superstructure composed of intersectional nanoplates was synthesized by a micro-interface reaction method. The covellite CuS nanocrystals were formed by the growth of hexagonal plates along the diagonal directions of the basal plate with an average edge length of ca. 350 nm and thickness of ca. 20 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) were used to characterize the CuS. The possible mechanism for the formation of the interesting CuS nanostructure on the 1,2-dichlorobenzene-ethylene glycol micro-interface was discussed.