title: Nanoscale copper sulfide hollow spheres with phase-engineered composition: covellite (CuS), digenite (Cu1.8S), chalcocite (Cu2S).
abstract: Covellite (CuS), digenite (Cu(1.8)S) and chalcocite (Cu(2)S) are prepared as nanoscaled hollow spheres by reaction at the liquid-to-liquid phase boundary of a w/o-microemulsion. According to electron microscopy (SEM, STEM, TEM, HRTEM) the hollow spheres exhibit an outer diameter of 32-36 nm, a wall thickness of 8-12 nm and an inner cavity of 8-16 nm in diameter. The phase composition is determined based on HRTEM, electron-energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. In face of the advanced morphology of the hollow spheres, precise control of its phase composition is nevertheless possible by adjusting the experimental conditions (i.e. type and concentration of the copper precursor, concentration of ammonia inside of the micelle). Such phase-engineering of nanoscale hollow spheres is firstly observed and might allow adjusting even further compositions/structures as well as tailoring of phase-specific properties in the future.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engesserstraße 15, D-76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leidinger
authors.forename: Radian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerthsen
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lünsdorf
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feldmann
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D013440:Sulfides; C099343:cuprous sulfide; D003300:Copper; C017846:cupric sulfide