University of Zululand
Synthesis of organically capped and water soluble metal sulfide semiconductor nanoparticles
Abstract
dc:description.abstractWell-defined faceted shaped organically and water soluble metal sulfide nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized using a hybrid solution based high temperature colloidal route in the presence of organic surfactants as both stabilizers and crystal growth modifiers. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared metal sulfide nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectrophotometry. By varying important parameters such as the metal precursors, reaction temperature, reaction time and organic surfactants, various nanomaterials with a range of morphologies and sizes were obtained. The morphologies of the organically soluble PbS nanoparticles was influenced by the variation in lead sources and organic surfactant. By varying the lead source HDA capped particles with morphologies ranging from close to spheres, elongated particles and perfect cubes were formed. When the capping group was changed to TOPO, predominantly rod shaped particles were obtained. The growth mechanism for the anisotropic HDA capped PbS is mostly likely due an oriented attachment mechanism. The formation of the rod shaped TOPO capped PbS is due to the impurities in TOPO. The X-ray diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy studies show that the particles are crystalline.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of Zululand
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2013
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Nejo, Ayorinde Olufunke
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Revaprasadu, N.