Dilute magnetic semiconductor Cu 2FeSnS 4 nanocrystals with a novel zincblende structure

Abstract

Diluted magnetic semiconductor Cu 2FeSnS 4 nanocrystals with a novel zincblende structure have been successfully synthesized by a hot-injection approach. Cu +, Fe 2+, and Sn 4+ ions occupy the same position in the zincblende unit cell, and their occupancy possibilities are 1/2, 1/4, and 1/4, respectively. The nanocrystals were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The nanocrystals have an average size of 7.5nm and a band gap of 1.1eV and show a weak ferromagnetic behavior at low temperature. Copyright © 2012 Xiaolu Liang et al.