Conclusions
In summary, we find that a variety of morphologies of metal
sulfide nanomaterials may be grown from the simple thermal
decomposition of a single-source molecular precursor in
a compatible solvent system on substrates. The most important
factor determining the final morphology appears to be the
concentration of the single-source molecular precursor. For the
case of cuprous sulfide (Cu2S), nanostructures with six-fold
symmetry are formed in the low-temperature stable monoclinic
crystal phase (low-chalcocite). Spontaneous assembly of these
structures when grown on substrates leads to close-packed
monolayer formations which may be suitable for photovoltaic
applications. For lead sulfide (PbS), the degree of branching
observed in the nanocrystals formed increases with increasing
precursor concentration. In both materials, SLS growth of 1-D
nanowires on substrates is induced by the addition of a bismuth