Synthesis and characterisation of [Cu4In(PPh3)3SePh(μ-SePh)3(μ3-SePh)3], and its application as a precursor of a sensitizer for a photocatalyst

Abstract

The synthesis and characterisation of [Cu4In(PPh3)3SePh(μ-SePh)3(μ3-SePh)3] (1) is described together with its use as a precursor of CuInSe2. Compound 1 is a kind of single source precursor that has increased thermodynamic stability relative to many other organometallic compounds, and it can be used to generate the CuInSe2 sensitizer. The CuInSe2 generated from 1 was immobilized in TiO2 to give the composite CuInSe2/TiO2 (1a), which behaves as an active and robust photocatalyst for water splitting.