Colloidal synthesis of pure CuInTe2 crystallites based on the HSAB theoryElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nj02108e

The colloidal method has extensively been used to synthesize ternary and quaternary copper sulfides and selenides. The formation pathway and the crystallization mechanism of these nanostructures have also been investigated. Although tellurides form part of the chalcogenides, little has been reported on them particularly the crystallization mechanism of these nanostructures. Herein, we report on the colloidal synthesis of CuInTe 2 . Typically reaction temperatures play a vital role in the formation of colloidal nanostructures. At temperatures below 250 °C, no formation of CuInTe 2 was seen. At 250 °C formation of CuInTe 2 could be observed with formation of binary impurities. A change in the sequence in which precursors were added at 250 °C yielded pure CuInTe 2 . Therefore starting with InCl 3 and elemental Te dissolved in OLA and TOP, respectively, then adding CuCl dissolved in OLA yielded a pure CuInTe 2 phase with agglomerated cubic structures. The pure CuInTe 2 crystallites had an optical band gap of 1.22 eV in comparison to 0.93 eV of the impure CuInTe 2 phase. The determination of the order of precursor addition based on the HSAB theory in the synthesis of pure CuInTe 2 particles.