Unveiling the influence of synthesis techniques on crystallite size of CuInS₂ nanostructures

Abstract Copper indium disulfide (CuInS 2 ) nanostructures are synthesized by wet precipitation and sol–gel techniques. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis exhibits nanorods (NR) and nanocubes (NC) of CuInS 2 resulting from wet precipitation and sol–gel methods, respectively. Their characterizations are accomplished by UV–vis-NIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The particle size is obtained from HRTEM, UV–vis-NIR, and DLS analyses. Average crystallite size is estimated via Scherrer’s method (graphical and analytical), Monshi-Scherrer method, Williamson–Hall relations (uniform deformation, uniform stress deformation, and uniform deformation energy-density models), size-strain plot method, and Halder-Wagner relation using XRD profile which is also compared with as-obtained particle size. Moreover, the XRD pattern reflection peaks are used to assess more accurately energy density, lattice stress, and microstrain values. The results affirm NR have higher crystallite size (∼22 nm) than NC (∼16 nm). The outcomes demonstrate outstanding agreement of predicted average crystallite sizes using the different approaches.