Influence of sulfur source on properties of CuSbS2 particles

Abstract CuSbS 2 is a direct p-type semiconductor with a two-dimensional layered structure of orthorhombic system, excellent electrical performance, and a band gap of 1.1–1.5 eV, which has a light absorption coefficient of more than 10 4 cm −1 in the visible light range. CuSbS 2 particles were synthesized by microwave irradiation method, and the effects of different sulfur sources on the phase structure, morphology and electrochemical performance of CuSbS 2 particles were studied. The results showed that the sample prepared by thiourea as sulfur source was CuSbS 2 phase, and the morphology was composed of flower-like microspheres and rod-like particles. However, nanorod-like CuSbS 2 particles were obtained using L-cysteine or 3-thiopropionic acid as sulfur sources, and the phase of samples contained CuSbS 2 and Sb 2 S 3 phase. Electrochemical tests showed that L-cysteine based CuSbS 2 particles had the largest photocurrent response, a photocurrent density of 1.03 μ A cm −2 and impedance of 14.66 Ω.