Scalable Heating-Up Synthesis of Monodisperse Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals

Monodisperse CuZnSnS (CZTS) nanocrystals (NCs), with quasi-spherical shape, were prepared by a facile, high-yield, scalable, and high-concentration heat-up procedure. The key parameters to minimize the NC size distribution were efficient mixing and heat transfer in the reaction mixture through intensive argon bubbling and improved control of the heating ramp stability. Optimized synthetic conditions allowed the production of several grams of highly monodisperse CZTS NCs per batch, with up to 5wt% concentration in a crude solution and a yield above 90%