Shape-Controlled Copper Selenide Nanocubes Synthesized by an Electrochemical Crystallization Method

Nanocubes of copper selenide (Cu2-xSe) have been synthesized through an electrochemical crystallization method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the structure directing agent. The shapes of Cu2-xSe nanocubes can be controlled by the adsorption effect of CTA+ hydrocarbon chain and Br− ion on the facets of the Cu2-xSe crystals. First-principle quantum chemical calculations indicate that the preferential adsorption of bromide onto the {100} facets of Cu2-xSe crystals results in the final cubic shape. The ability to generate Cu2-xSe nanostructures with well-defined morphologies not only provides potential application of Cu2-xSe nanocubes in photoelectric devices but also provides a great opportunity to systematically study the relationship between their properties and geometric shapes.