Synthesis, structural and optical properties of ZnS, CdS and HgS nanoparticles from dithiocarbamato single molecule precursors

Abstract

Dithiocarbamate complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) were synthesize and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis, FTIR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The complexes were thermolyzed at 180°C to prepare HDA-capped ZnS, CdS and HgS nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles showed absorptions that are blue shifted with respect to the bulk and narrow emissions. The ZnS nanoparticles are in the cubic phase with average crystallite sizes of 3–5 nm. The CdS nanoparticles consist of a mixture of cubic and hexagonal phases with particle sizes of 8–22 nm, while the HgS nanoparticles are in the cubic phase with average crystallite sizes of 7–14 nm.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• dithiocarbamate
• metal sulfides
• nanoparticles
• structural properties
• optical properties
• dithiocarbamates

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from GMRDC, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.