Generalized and Facile Synthesis of Semiconducting Metal Sulfide Nanocrystals

Abstract

We report on the synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals of PbS, ZnS, CdS, and MnS through a facile and inexpensive synthetic process. Metal-oleylamine complexes, which were obtained from the reaction of metal chloride and oleylamine, were mixed with sulfur. The reaction mixture was heated under appropriate experimental conditions to produce metal sulfide nanocrystals. Uniform cube-shaped PbS nanocrystals with particle sizes of 6, 8, 9, and 13 nm were synthesized. The particle size was controlled by changing the relative amount of PbCl(2) and sulfur. Uniform 11 nm sized spherical ZnS nanocrystals were synthesized from the reaction of zinc chloride and sulfur, followed by one cycle of size-selective precipitation. CdS nanocrystals that consist of rods, bipods, and tripods were synthesized from a reaction mixture containing a 1:6 molar ratio of cadmium to sulfur. Spherical CdS nanocrystals (5.1 nm sized) were obtained from a reaction mixture with a cadmium to sulfur molar ratio of 2:1. MnS nanocrystals with various sizes and shapes were synthesized from the reaction of MnCl(2) and sulfur in oleylamine. Rod-shaped MnS nanocrystals with an average size of 20 nm (thickness) x 37 nm (length) were synthesized from a 1:1 molar ratio of MnCl(2) and sulfur at 240 degrees C. Novel bullet-shaped MnS nanocrystals with an average size of 17 nm (thickness) x 44 nm (length) were synthesized from the reaction of 4 mmol of MnCl(2) and 2 mmol of sulfur at 280 degrees C for 2 h. Shorter bullet-shaped MnS nanocrystals were synthesized from a 3:1 molar ratio of MnCl(2) and sulfur. Hexagon-shaped MnS nanocrystals were also obtained. All of the synthesized nanocrystals were highly crystalline.

Zinc blende versus wurtzite ZnS nanoparticles: control of the phase and optical properties by tetrabutylammonium hydroxide

“…9,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] In addition to these techniques, the preparation of ZnS via solution chemical routes provides a promising option for the large-scale production of this material. Therefore, it is important to develop new environmentally friendly processing material methods with low cost, and with the possibility of formation of nanoscale materials with phase control and well-defined morphologies.…”

The surface chemistry of NOx on mackinawite (FeS) surfaces: a DFT-D2 study

“…[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] Iron sulfides are suggested catalysts in the iron-sulfur hypothesis for the origin of life. Pioneering research into evolutionary biochemistry by Wächtershäuser and others has suggested that many of the prebiotic chemical reactions might be catalysed by iron sulfide (mackinawite, greigite, pyrite and violarite) surfaces at hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor during the Hadean and early Archean eras.…”

Emerging strategies for the synthesis of highly monodisperse colloidal nanostructures

“…In our report, a slurry of excess PbCl 2 in oleylamine was reacted with sulphur dissolved in oleylamine by a hot injection method, with temperatures of injection and growth being, respectively, 120 • C and 100 • C. The use of PbCl 2 in oleylamine as a precursor was reported 2 years earlier by Joo et al (2003), but, in their experimental conditions, the powder dissolved, leading to a homogeneous solution.…”