Room Temperature Synthesis of CdS Nanocrystallites

Abstract

Semiconductor nanoparticles have attracted much interest during the past decade due to their unique size-dependent chemical and physical properties. These properties emerge from the high surface-to-volume ratio present in nanoparticles.

CdS nanoparticles have potential applications as optoelectronic devices, lasers, photocatalysts, electrochemical cells, fluorescent labelling of cell organelles.

A series of cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanocrystalline were synthesized by precipitation from a mixture of aqueous solutions of various cadmium salts and sodium thiosulphate at room temperature without adding any surface-termination agent. Their crystal structure and particle size were determined by X-ray diffraction. The fluorescence of CdS nanocrystalline and UV-Vis absorption spectra were also recorded.

The relationship between the synthesis conditions and spectroscopic properties was studied. Several factors affect the absorbance and fluorescence spectra, including the cadmium source and Cd:S molar ratio. It has found that in all cases the powders have good morphology when scanned through the SEM.

Keywords:

• CdS nanocrystallites
• semiconductors
• thiosulphate