Synthesis of Nanoparticulate Alloys of the Composition Cu₂Zn_1–<i>x</i>Fe_<i>x</i>SnS₄: Structural, Optical, and Magnetic Properties

Abstract

Nanoparticles of the semiconductor Cu2Zn(1-x)Fe(x)SnS4 with different mole fractions of iron (x(Fe)) were synthesized by the decomposition of molecular precursors in oleylamine. The composition, structure, optical, and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles are reported. The parent (Cu2ZnSnS4) zinc material is usually reported as kesteritic and the corresponding iron phase as stannitic; with different site occupancies and tetragonalities. In the small ca. 8-10 nm particles prepared, the smooth variation in lattice parameters and other measured properties suggest that the phase change, with composition, may be absent. SQUID magnetometry suggests that the iron containing samples are ferromagnetic at 5 K and paramagnetic at 300 K.