Synthesis of single crystal CuAlS2 nanowires via a low temperature direct polyol route

The direct polyol method is used to prepare copper aluminium sulfide CuAlS2 nanowires. The lattice constants of CuAlS2 nanowires calculated from powder X-ray diffraction data indicates chalcopyrite structure. The CuAlS2 nanowires are uniformly in shape and their dimensions are about 50 nm in diameter and several of micrometers in length. The Photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of CuAlS2 nanowires show a sharp absorption edge at 358.96 nm and a strong near band edge emission at 3.46 eV. The direct energy gap EgEg of the sample has been calculated as 3.48 eV, that corresponding to the photoluminescence study. A possible formation mechanism of copper aluminium sulfide is proposed.