Colloidal Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals generated by a facile route using ethylxanthate molecular precursors

We have demonstrated a flexible method for preparing Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanocrystals by use of zinc ethylxanthate (Zn(ex)2) and copper ethylxanthate (Cu(ex)2). TEM, SEM, XRD, UV–vis, EDS, XPS and TG‐DTA indicate that the CZTS nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized. As air‐stable molecular precursors, Zn(ex)2 and Cu(ex)2 can optimize the synthesis of quaternary CZTS nanocrystals because Cu(ex)2 and Zn(ex)2 facilitate the formation of homogeneous precursor solutions including all precursors and then for the flexible production of CZTS nanocrystals in homogeneous reaction solutions. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)