Indium(III) (3-methyl-2-pyridyl)selenolate: Synthesis, structure and its utility as a single source precursor for the preparation of In2Se3 nanocrystals and a dual source precursor with [Cu{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}]4 for the preparation of CuInSe2

•Packing of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3]·2.5H2O shows cavities filled with water.•Tailored morphologies of In2Se3 nanoparticles.•Simple and efficient synthesis of CuInSe2.

Treatment of InCl3 with three equivalents of NaSeC5H3(Me-3)N afforded [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3] which was characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis and NMR (1H, 13C, 77Se) spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3]·2.5H2O revealed that the central indium atom acquires a distorted octahedral geometry. Thermal behavior of the complex was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Thermolysis of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3] in various coordinating solvents, gave different morphologies of indium selenide depending on the reaction conditions. Thermolysis of a 1:1 mixture of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3] and [Cu{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}]4 in various coordinating solvents gave nanocrystals of copper indium selenide. Both In2Se3 and CuInSe2 were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM and SAED techniques.

Graphical abstractTreatment of InCl3 with NaSeC5H3(Me-3)N afforded [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3]. The central indium atom acquires a distorted octahedral geometry. Thermolysis of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3] in various coordinating solvents and different reaction conditions yielded different morphologies of indium selenide. Thermolysis of 1:1 mixture of [In{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}3] and [Cu{SeC5H3(Me-3)N}]4 in various coordinating solvents gave nanocrystals of copper indium selenide.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide