One-pot self-assembly of flower-like Cu₂S structures with near-infrared photoluminescent properties

Novel flower-like Cu₂S structures with strong photoluminescence emission in the near-infrared region have been synthesized via a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly chemical reaction from an oleic acid solution containing Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O and S. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal the flower-like nanostructures are monodispersed in large quantities. The formation of the flower-like structures can be tuned by adjusting the molar ratio of the two reaction reagents, concentration of precursors, reaction temperature, or reaction time. The possible growth mechanism of the formation of flower-like Cu₂S structures was proposed.