2D Atomic Templating for the Large-Scale Synthesis of Metastable CuInS2and Its Heterojunctions
Journal
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Journal Volume
17
Journal Issue
31
Start Page
45122
End Page
45129
ISSN
1944-8244
1944-8252
Date Issued
2025-07-23
Author(s)
Chang, Jui-Teng
Chen, Yu-Xiang
Chin, Hao-Ting
Chen, Ding-Rui
Lee, Jian-Jhang
Chou, Yi-Chia
Hsieh, Ya-Ping
Abstract
CuInS2has emerged as a promising material for sustainable energy technologies due to its combination of attractive electronic, economic, and ecological properties. However, current synthesis routes exhibit limited phase uniformity and degraded optoelectronic performance due to the complex Cu–In–S phase diagram. In this work, we report a synthesis strategy that overcomes these limitations and can produce CuInS2with a singular crystalline phase. An atomic templating approach is described that retains the structural order of a two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal monochalcogenide host to realize phase-pure wurtzite CuAu-type CuInS2. Structural and spectroscopic characterization confirms the exclusive formation of this metastable phase and provides insights into its electronic properties. The transformation proceeds via a strain-mediated layer-by-layer cation-exchange mechanism, enabling precise control over its extent and interfaces. This approach establishes a generalizable route for synthesizing complex 2D heterostructures, and we demonstrate the direct growth of ternary 2D heterojunctions at large scale. The potential of this capability was highlighted through the realization of optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices with enhanced performance.
Subjects
2D materials
atomic templating
CuAu-type wurtzite
CuInS2
photodetector
thermoelectric
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Type
journal article