Ternary and quaternary structured thiospinel nanocrystals are important materials for energy applications based on their outstanding characteristics such as earth abundant components, non-toxic nature and simple production. In this study, CuNiCoS₄, CuCo₅S₈ and CuCo₂S₄ nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized via hot injection-method with generalized synthesis conditions and detailed structural, optical and electrochemical characterizations were performed for the first time. The characterization results indicated that the nanocrystals were single phase, nearly stoichiometric composition and a mean size below 10 nm. Moreover, the synthesized nanocrystals have been used for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution as a catalyst under visible light irradiation. In these reactions, CuNiCoS₄ nanocrystals exhibited higher photocatalytic activity and stability than the others. CuNiCoS₄ and CuCo₅S₈ catalyst have firstly been proven as valuable alternatives to CuCo₂S₄ structure and Platinum in hydrogen evolution reactions and are of particular interest due to lower costs, ease of fabrication and comparable evolution performance.

三元和四元结构的硫代松油纳米晶体由于其出色的特性（如富含地球的成分，无毒性质和简单的生产方法）是能源应用的重要材料。在这项研究中，CuNiCoS ₄，CuCo ₅ S ₈和CuCo ₂ S ₄纳米晶体已经通过热注射方法在通用的合成条件下成功合成，并且首次进行了详细的结构，光学和电化学表征。表征结果表明，纳米晶体为单相，接近化学计量组成且平均尺寸低于10nm。而且，合成的纳米晶体已经用作可见光照射下的光催化氢释放催化剂。在这些反应中，CuNiCoS ₄纳米晶体表现出更高的光催化活性和稳定性。首先证明了CuNiCoS ₄和CuCo ₅ S ₈催化剂是CuCo ₂ S的有价值的替代品氢析出反应中的₄结构和铂特别受关注，因为其成本更低，易于制造且具有相当的析出性能。