SOLVOTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF Sb2S3 NEEDLES AND STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF THEIR INTERGROWTH ON THEIR OPTICAL PROPERTIES

Antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3) was successfully synthesized by the solvothermal route using either inorganic SbCl3 or organic C8H10K2O15Sb2 antimony precursors, and carbon disulfide as sulfur precursor with ethylene glycol as the solvent. The use of SbCl3 resulted in single needles, while C8H10K2O15Sb2 conducted to needle-bundles. In both cases, the crystal structure is orthorhombic (Stibnite), as a single phase. The introduction of structural defects caused by the intergrowth is evidenced by Raman spectroscopy. The defects originate a variation of the optical bandgap of the material.