CuInS2 flower vaselike nanostructure arrays on a Cu tape substrate by the copper indium sulfide on Cu-tape (CISCuT) method:: Growth and characterization

CuInS2 flower vaselike nanostructure arrays were successfully prepared for the first time on Cu-tape substrates by a facile copper indium sulfide on Cu-tape (CISCuT) method without using any template or catalyst. The sulfurization time and the thickness of the In layer deposited on the Cu-tape were the influential factors for obtaining single phase, well-crystalline, nanostructured CuInS2. Formation of the CuInS2 flower vaselike nanostructures was initiated by a self-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) technique, whereas the vapor-solid (VS) process played a crucial role in defining the shapes of the nanoflower vases. Optical reflectance and Raman spectroscopy were adopted to characterize the CuInS2 flower vaselike nanostructures.