Water Soluble CuInSe2 Nanoplates: Controlled Synthesis, Photoelectric Response and Electrocatalytic Reduction of Polysulfides

Hexagonal CuInSe2 ( CISe) nanoplates with a size of about 200 nm have been synthesized by a two-step solvo-thermal method, in which Se-x(2-) precursor stabilized by HCO(CH3)(2)NH+ cations (hydrolysis product of the solvent) was prepared from Se powder and vitamin C. Further study indicated that the pre-reduction process of Se powder could control the concentration of Se-x(2-) ions, which played a key role in the phase formation and morphologies of CISe. Furthermore, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) was beneficial to form CISe nanoplates and could help CISe nanoplates disperse in ethanol and water to form stable inks. CISe films prepared by drop-coating showed a good photoelectric response under visible light irradiation and better electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of polysulfides than Pt.