Synthesis and characterization of metal sulfide and oxide nanoparticles from molecular precursors

Abstract

This thesis is aimed to explore the feasibility and suitability of thiocarboxylate and carboxylate complexes as precursors to produce metal sulfide and oxide nanoparticles. Monodispersed CdS nanoparticles with controllable sizes were prepared by refluxing the precursor in aqueous media, and the growth kinetics was studies. For the first time, we present a simple method to produce metal sulfides from molecular precursors at room temperature and ambient conditions. The mechanism of the reaction was investigated with FTIR and NMR analysis and DFT calculations. In addition, shape-controlled synthesis of PbS nanocrystals have been demonstrated by interplaying simple chemistry of the surface capping reagents. Based on the amine-assisted mechanism, a simple and general non-hydrolytic approach has been developed to prepare metal oxide nanocrystals. Commercially available metal acetates can be readily used to produce the corresponding oxides in hot alkylamines media. The morphologies and composition of the as-obtained nanocrystals can be readily tuned by changing the experimental conditions.