Synthesis of Sulfides Nanomaterials at Aqueous-Organic Interfaces

CdS, CuS and MoS₂ semiconductors were successfully synthesized at the aqueous-organic interfaces via the chemical synthesis method. The Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and ions were extracted into organic phase by the extractant di- (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) monothiophosphinic acid firstly, then the obtained Cyanex 302-Cd²⁺ (Cu²⁺ or ) complexes in organic phase reacted with S²⁻ in the aqueous phase at the aqueous-organic interfaces to synthesize sulfide nanomaterials, respectively. The obtained nanomaterials were characterized by x-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, respectively. It could be seen that the extractant played several functions in the whole procedure: the phase transferring agent, the morphology controlling agent and surface-modifying agent.

Keywords:

• Chemical synthesis
• extractant
• interfaces
• semiconductors

The authors thank Cytec Canada Inc. for its kind supplying the extractant of Cyanex 302. This work was financially supported by the foundation of Ph.D. subjects 2005, P. R. China (No. 20050426003).