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. 2025 Apr 30;16(22):10051-10060.
doi: 10.1039/d5sc00657k. eCollection 2025 Jun 4.

Colloidal CuInS2 quantum well nanostructures with II-VI semiconductors as barrier layers

Yue Qin  1 , Xuerong Song  1 , Hanzhuang Zhang  1 , Wenyu Ji  1 , Jiajia Ning  1
Affiliations

Colloidal CuInS2 quantum well nanostructures with II-VI semiconductors as barrier layers

Yue Qin et al. Chem Sci. .

Abstract

Quantum well (QW) structures have been successfully produced and utilized in high-performance optoelectronic devices. By designing QW structures at the nanoscale, it is possible to combine the advantages of both QW structures and nanostructures, resulting in extraordinary properties. In this study, a CuInS2 (CIS) quantum well layer was successfully constructed within a single nanostructure using a colloidal method. Various QW nanostructures were synthesized, including CdS/CIS/CdS, CdS/CIS/ZnS, ZnS/CIS/CdS, and Cd-free ZnS/CIS/ZnS configurations. The shapes of these QW nanostructures were precisely tuned to form tetrahedrons, hexagonal columns, and rods. Importantly, the morphology and crystal structure of the CIS layer play a crucial role in determining the final morphologies of the QW nanostructures. These QW nanostructures exhibit fluorescence emission in the near-infrared range (NIR), achieving a maximum quantum yield of 37% at 783 nm. This work demonstrates the successful construction of a CIS quantum well layer within a single colloidal nanoparticle, providing a valuable research model for fundamental studies and offering promising materials for optoelectronic devices.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1. The band alignment scheme of CdS/CIS/CdS QW structures.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1. (a) TEM image, (d) HRTEM image and (g) AC-STEM-HADDF image of tetrahedron-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures, (b) TEM image, (e) HRTEM image and (h) AC-STEM-HADDF image of hexagonal column-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures, and (c) TEM image, (f) HRTEM image and (i) AC-STEM-HADDF image of rod-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures. The illustrated structure models for each nanostructure are shown in the inset of the TEM image, respectively.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. TEM image of (a) CdS QDs and (b) tetrahedron-shaped CdS/CIS nanostructures, (c) the PL spectra of spherical CdS QDs (taro purple line), tetrahedron-shaped CdS/CIS nanostructures (pink line) and tetrahedron-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures (navy blue line).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. TEM image of (a) CdS QDs, (b) spherical dot-shaped CdS/CIS nanostructures, (c) hexagonal column-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures, and (d) rod-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures. The structure models are shown in the insets of TEM images, respectively.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. XRD patterns of CdS QDs (purple line), spherical dot-shaped CdS/CIS nanostructures (pink line) and rod-shaped CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures (blue line).
Scheme 2
Scheme 2. The formation process of quantum well structures.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. (a) TEM image and (d) HRTEM image of ZnS QDs, (b) TEM image and (e) HRTEM image of spherical dot-shaped ZnS/CIS nanostructures, (c) TEM image and (f) HRTEM image of rod-shaped ZnS/CIS/ZnS QW nanostructures.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. Absorption and PL spectra of ZnS QDs (blue line), spherical dot-shaped ZnS/CIS nanostructures (pink line) and rod-shaped ZnS/CIS/ZnS QW nanostructures (light green line, lateral growth).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7. (a) TEM image and (d) HRTEM image of rod-shaped CdS/CIS/ZnS QW nanostructures; (b) TEM image and (e) HRTEM image of hexagonal column-shaped ZnS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures; (c) TEM image and (f) HRTEM image of rod-shaped ZnS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8. PL emission spectra of CdS/CIS/CdS QW nanostructures (tetrahedron-shaped) (black line), CdS/CIS/ZnS QW nanostructures (rod-shaped) (red line), and ZnS/CIS/ZnS QW nanostructures (rod-shaped) (blue line).
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