Monodisperse SnS Nanocrystals: In Just 5 Seconds

Abstract

As per the classical growth mechanism, tuning the reaction parameters in the growth stage remains pivotal to control the shape, size, dispersity, and size distribution of the colloidal nanocrystals, but what would be the case when the growth is very fast and the nanomaterials are formed instantaneously? Certainly, it needs a different chemical protocol. We investigate here one of such cases: the formation of different shapes of SnS nanostructures. With proper programming of chemical reaction, highly monodisperse α-SnS nanocubes and nanotetrahedrons are obtained within 5 s of the reaction. Furthermore, tuning the density of nucleation, the size of the nanostructures is tuned in a wide window. These two shapes of SnS are also explored for the study of photocatalytic dye degradation, and the facet-dependent rate for this photocatalytic activity has been compared.