Shape-controlled copper selenide nanocubes synthesized by an electrochemical crystallization method

Nanocubes of copper selenide (Cu₂-J_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.