Temperature-dependent Growth Mechanism of PVP-based Copper Sulfide (CuS) Nanocomposite

This study focuses on the proficient synthesis of a Copper Sulfide (CuS) nanocomposite using the hydrothermal method at four distinct reaction temperatures: 130°C, 150°C, 170°C, and 200°C, each with a 5-hour duration. Comprehensive characterization through Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has been undertaken to analyze the morphological, optical, and compositional aspects of the synthesized sample. Key findings include the identification of a hexagonal phase of CuS nanostructures, closely aligned with reference data (JCPDS card no 9000062), and an average crystallite size ranging from 17nm to 26nm. SEM imaging reveals a distinctive petal-like flower morphology in the CuS nanomaterial. Energy Dispersive Spectra (EDS) confirms the presence of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) elements in the nanocomposite. The optical analysis demonstrates a direct type of allowed transition and variable band gap values (ranging from 2.07eV to 1.92eV), suggesting potential applications in optoelectronics and the significant influence of reaction temperature on the stability and size of the CuS nanocomposite, highlighting the critical role of temperature control in the synthesis process.