Fabrication of novel CdIn2S4 hollow spheres via a facile hydrothermal process

Novel CdIn2S4 hollow spheres with small bipyramids aggregating on their surface had been successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal process without any template or surfactant. The crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectra, scanning electron microscopy, transirussion electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The reaction conditions influencing the synthesis of these CdIn2S4 hollow sphere structures, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, and the kinds of solvent used, were investigated. Furthermore, on the basis of a series of observations, phenomenological elucidation of a mechanism for the growth of the CdIn2S4 hollow spheres has been presented.