In Air Template-Free Synthesis of In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> Hierarchical Nanostructure from InCl<sub>3</sub>·4H<sub>2</sub>O and Thiourea

A novel template-free method, which was based on heating the mixture of InCl3•4H2O and thiourea in air from room temperature to 200 or 250 °C, coupled with a subsequent washing treatment using distilled water and ethanol, was proposed for the synthesis of In2S3 hierarchical nanostructure. X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electronic microscopy demonstrated that the obtained products were pure cubic phase In2S3 urchin-like clusters built up by mainly nanoflakes (about 12–47 nm thick). UV-vis absorption spectra disclosed that the as-prepared In2S3 urchins had optical band gaps in the range of about 2.18–2.26 eV.