Controlled synthesis of AgInS2 nanocrystals and their application in organic–inorganic hybrid photodetectors

High quality AgInS2 nanocrystals (NCs) are synthesized using a simple single-source precursor method, in which the size and morphology of the products can be precisely controlled from heliotrope seed-like NCs of 6 × 12 nm to heliotrope seed-like dimer NCs of 8 × 16 nm by tuning the composition of the coordinating solvents of oleic acid and 1-dodecanethiol. The results show that 1-dodecanethiol plays a dominant role in determining the morphology of AgInS2 NCs due to its strong absorption onto the {001} crystal plane of AgInS2 NCs. The photoelectric properties of the as-prepared AgInS2 NCs have been characterized using AgInS2-poly(3-hexylthiophene) hybrid nanodevices. The results illustrate that the AgInS2 NCs present very high photosensitivity and photostability to outside illumination. The high sensitivity and stability of the hybrid nanodevice indicate a broad spectrum of applications in the photoelectric nanodevices.