Synthesis and properties of ZnS nanoparticles by solvothermal and pyrolysis routes using the Zn dithiocarbamate complex as novel single source precursor

ABSTRACT

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of ZnS nanoparticles prepared via two approaches, involving the thermal decomposition of the precursor complex in a furnace (pyrolysis) and by solvothermal process in the presence of hexadecylamine (HDA-ZnS), are reported. The precursor complex, Zinc (II) bis (N,N-diallyl dithiocarbamate), was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray techniques. The spectroscopic analyses of the complex indicated a symmetrical bidentate coordination of the dithio ligand through the S-atoms. The single-crystal X-ray structure revealed a distorted square pyramidal coordinate geometry with S atoms around the Zn ion. The optical properties and the morphology of the as-prepared nanoparticles were studied by UV-Vis and photoluminescense spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. HDA-ZnS are spherical and monodispersed with an average size of 4.5 nm, as estimated from the optical absorption spectrum and the TEM image. The ZnS nanoparticles obtained via pyrolysis in a furnace yielded the hexagonal wurtzite phase, whereas the HDA-ZnS nanoparticles showed a mixture of wurtzite and cubic phase with the cubic phase being dominant.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• ZnS
• single crystal
• solvothermal
• pyrolysis
• optical properties
• structural studies

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of North-West University, South Africa.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at doi:10.1080/17415993.2015.1080707.