Phosphine free synthesis of copper telluride nanocrystals in 1D and 2D shapes using Dipehylditelluride (DPDTe) as an air-stable source.

In this paper, we have developed a 'phosphine-free' method for synthesising copper telluride nanocrystals using diphenyl ditelluride as an air-stable tellurium source. The diphenyl ditelluride is shown to have optimal reactivity for the colloidal synthesis of Cu 2 Te, allowing optimal control over the phase and morphology. Using this unexplored Te precursor for copper telluride synthesis, 1D nanorods of hexagonal phase (Cu 2 Te) were synthesised at a moderate temperature of 180 °C. The precise control over key parameters for this system results in Cu 2- x Te nanocrystals forming with varied shapes (1D nanorods and 2D nanoplates), sizes, and crystal phases (hexagonal Cu 2 Te and orthorhombic Cu 1.43 Te).