Sonochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline mercury sulfide, selenide and telluride in aqueous solutions

Nanocrystalline mercury chalcogenides HgE (E = S, Se, Te) were synthesized in a single step by a convenient, simple sonochemical method. Mercury nitrate, Hg(NO₃)₂, dissolved in 0.1 M ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), was used as the source of mercury and elemental chalcogenes, dissolved in a NaOH solution, as the sources of chalcogenide. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The synthesis procedure is simple and uses less toxic reagents than the previously reported methods. The results showed that the complexing agent EDTA plays a crucial role in the process.     

A sonochemical method for the selective synthesis of alpha-HgS and beta-HgS nanoparticles

A novel sonochemical method for the selective synthesis of alpha-HgS (cinnabar) and beta-HgS (metacinnabar) nanoparticles in aqueous solutions is reported in this paper. alpha-HgS and beta-HgS nanoparticles have been selectively prepared by choosing sodium thiosulfate and thiourea as the sulfur source respectively. To study the crystalline structure, size, morphology and composition of the products, characterization techniques including X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis are employed. The optical properties of the nanoparticles are investigated by UV-visible absorption spectroscopic measurements. The direct band gap of the as-prepared alpha-HgS nanoparticles with an average size of 12 nm is calculated to be 2.8 eV according to the absorption spectrum. In the case of the beta-HgS nanoparticles with an average size of 13 nm, a broad absorption peak is observed in the UV-visible absorption spectrum, which can be ascribed to the special surface state of this sample. Probable mechanisms for the sonochemical formation of alpha-HgS and beta-HgS nanoparticles in aqueous solutions are presented. The optimum pH value of the stock solutions and the effect of sonication time on the particle size are also investigated.     

Atomic structure of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles

A method for calculating the x-ray diffraction patterns of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles with a disordered internal structure, a real surface, shape, and size is proposed within the kinematic theory of scattering. A computer analysis has revealed that the characteristic shape of the experimental x-ray diffraction patterns of cadmium sulfide films and powders is determined by a specific disordered nanoparticle structure differing from the crystal structures of wurtzite and sphalerite. According to the computer simulation, cadmium sulfide nanoparticles synthesized through chemical deposition have a shape similar to a hexagonal prism with a characteristic size of approximately 5 nm.     

Influence of particles on sonochemical reactions in aqueous solutions

Numerous publications deal with the possible application of ultrasound for elimination of organic pollutants as a tool for water pollution abatement. Most of the experiments were performed in pure water under laboratory conditions. For developing technologies that hold promise it is necessary to investigate the effect of ultrasound in natural systems or waste water where particulate matter could play an important role. In this paper the influence of quartz particles (2-25 microm) on the chemical effects of ultrasound in aqueous system using a high power ultrasound generator (68-1028 kHz, 100 W, reactor volume 500 ml) is reported. In pure water in dependence on particle size, concentration and frequency the formation rate of hydrogen peroxide under Ar/O2 (4:1) shows a maximum using 206 kHz in presence of 3-5 microm quartz particles (4-8 g/l). Under these conditions the yield of peroxide is higher than without quartz. Additionally under N2/O2 (4:1) besides hydrogen peroxide the formation of nitrite/nitrate was measured. Compared to pure water quartz particle depressed the formation of nitrite/nitrate up to 10-fold but not the formation of H2O2. According to the results of H2O2 formation the elimination of organic compounds by sonolysis (206 kHz) and the influence of quartz particles were investigated. As organic compounds salicylic acid, 2-chlorobenzoic acid and p-toluenesulfonic acid were used. The influence of quartz on the oxidation of organic compounds (206 kHz) is similar to that on the formation of H2O2.     

Infrared absorption due to localized vibrational mode of beryllium in cadmium sulfide and selenide

The polarized infrared absorption due to the fundamental and 2nd-harmonic excitation of the localized vibration of Be in CdS and CdSe is observed. The splitting and the polarization property are in accord with C_3ν point symmetry of Be impurity. The anharmonic potential coefficients are obtained up to the 3rd order. The Raman scattering from Be localized mode is also measured in the case of CdS: Be.     

Absorption saturation in oxide silicate glasses colored by cadmium sulfide selenide single crystals

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 86–90, January, 1989.     

A parametric review of sonochemistry: Control and augmentation of sonochemical activity in aqueous solutions

In this review the phenomenon of ultrasonic cavitation and associated sonochemistry is presented through system parameters. Primary parameters are defined and considered, namely; pressure amplitude, frequency and reactor design; including transducer type, signal type, vessel-transducer ratio, liquid flow, liquid height, liquid temperature and the presence of a reflective plate. Secondary parameters are similarly characterised and involve the use of gas and liquid additives to influence the chemical and physical environments. Each of the parameters are considered in terms of their effect on bubble characteristics and subsequent impact on sonochemical activity. Evidence suggests that via parametric variation, the reaction products and efficiency may be controlled. This is hypothesised to occur through manipulation of the structural stability of the bubble.     

Ultrasensitive fluorescent probe for copper ion based on cadmium selenide/cadmium sulfide quantum dots capped with dimercaprol

A new ultrasensitive copper ion fluorescent probe based on cadmium selenide/cadmium sulfide quantum dots capped with dimercaprol is described. Dimercaprol was bonded to the quantum dots through a surface ligand exchange to form dimercaprol-capped quantum dots whose fluorescence could be quenched by the coordination of dimercaprol on quantum dots’ surface with copper ion. The fluorescent probe based on dimercaprol-capped quantum dots showed a very good linear response range to copper ion from 0.1 to 50?µg?L^?1 with the detection limit of 0.087?µg?L^?1. The proposed method exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity due to the specific and strong affinity of dimercaprol with copper ion and the unique photoluminescence properties of quantum dots. The possible quenching mechanism was discussed and the probe was successfully applied to the determination of ultratrace copper in real samples.     

A novel method for the preparation of III-V semiconductors: sonochemical synthesis of InP nanocrystals

A novel method for the preparation of III–V semiconductor has been provided in this paper. At room temperature, InP nanocrystals with diameter of ≈9 nm were successfully obtained under high-intensity ultrasonic irradiation for 4 h from the reaction of InCl₃·4H₂O, yellow phosphorus and KBH₄ in the mixed solvents of ethanol and benzene. Changing some parameters can effectively control the size of the products and possible explanations were offered. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscope and electron diffraction pattern. The ultrasonic irradiation and the solvents are both important in the formation of the product.     

Tuning of photoluminescence in cadmium selenide nanoparticles grown in CTAB based quaternary water-in-oil microemulsions

Cadmium selenide nanoparticles were synthesized in cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) microemulsion under ambient conditions and were found to be stable for months. The as-grown cadmium selenide nanoparticles exhibit strong room temperature photoluminescence with two emission peaks at 500 and 580 nm. The photo-excitation at wavelength above the exciton absorption peak gives rise to the sole band gap photoluminescence with the maximum at 500 nm whereas, the photo-excitation below the exciton absorption peak, furnishes only the trap state photoluminescence with the maximum at 580 nm. The photo-excitations at wavelengths closer to the exciton absorption peak give rise to both the emission peaks simultaneously. Intensities of these two emission peaks could be clearly tuned by controlling the precursor concentrations and the size of water pool in the microemulsions.     

A simple method for the preparation of colloidal polymer-supported silver nanoparticles

Polysulfone?silver composite nanoparticles have been prepared by combining polymer nanoprecipitation and redox synthesis of silver, in the presence of a glucose-modified cyclosiloxane as stabilizing agent. Based on previous kinetic investigations and on model reactions, we concluded that the reducing agent in this case is the tetrahydrofuran (THF) used as solvent for polysulfone. Dynamic light scattering measurements on the obtained polymer-silver composite particles indicated particle average diameter of 176 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.25. The UV–vis spectrum exhibited the silver plasmon resonance. By different microscopic methods (atomic force microscopy—AFM, high resolution transmission electron microscopy—HRTEM, and scanning electron microscopy—SEM), larger polymer particles coated with silver nanoprticles were observed. The Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis—EDX; confirmed the presence of Ag on the surface of the particles, while the selected area electron diffraction showed single crystalline silver nanospheres with face-centered cubic structure.     

Optical properties of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles on the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene nanogranules

The spectral characteristics in the visible range of synthesized nanocomposites based on cadmium sulfide and ultradispersed polytetrafluoroethylene are investigated experimentally. Local perturbations are found in the long-wavelength regions of the reflection and absorption spectra, which are related to the optical transitions between the critical points of the valence and conduction bands of the nanocomposite. The dispersion relations for the refractive index and the absorption coefficient are obtained for undoped and managanesedoped nanocomposites. The following important parameters of the nanocomposites are obtained from the spectral measurements: the fundamental optical absorption edge (the band gap), the refractive index (ω → 0), and the absorption coefficient. It is shown that doping with managanese affects changes in these parameters.     

Reaction kinetics of sonochemical oxidation of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in aqueous solutions

We studied sonochemical reactions resulting from ultrasonic treatment of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in aqueous solutions using a custom-built apparatus working at 536 kHz. We concluded that primary reactions are completely dominated by oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) and did not find any evidences for degradation of cyanide. At the highest concentration used in the present study (0.1 M) we detected formation of pentacyanoaquaferrate(II) complex, which is most probably formed in reactions between hexacyanoferrate(III) anions and hydrogen atoms or hydrated electrons formed in sonochemical processes. We also determined that hydroxyl radicals formation rate in our system, (8.7 ± 1.5)∙10⁻⁸ M∙s⁻¹, is relatively high compared to other reported experiments. We attribute this to focusing of the ultrasonic wave in the sample vessel. Finally, we suggest that oxidation rate of hexacyanoferrate(II) anions can be a convenient benchmark of efficiency of sonochemical reactors.     

Mechanism of fluorescence energy transfer in aqueous solution cadmium sulfide quantum dots

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots (QDs) prepared by a convenient chemical method have been characterized using absorption, fluorescence, and photoluminescence excitation techniques. The photoluminescence excitation studies show that there is an electron transfer from the surface adsorbate (thiourea) to CdS QDs in aqueous solution. The excitation band with peak maximum at 5.8 eV is assigned to the electronic transitions in the chemisorbed thiourea, whereas the excitation band between 3.45 and 3.7 eV corresponds to the band-to-band transition within the nanocrystalline CdS host. The absorption spectroscopy of the CdS QD solutions shows a strong absorption peak which is generated from thiourea. The band-edge fluorescence of the CdS QDs has also been investigated. It is shown that the fluorescence property of the CdS QDs can be enhanced by adding cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) solution.     

X-ray observation of anharmonicity in cadmium selenide

X-ray intensity measurements of selected Bragg reflections in hexagonal cadmium selenide have been interpreted within the framework of the one-particle potential. An estimate of the anharmonic parameter characterizing the thermal motion in the basal plane is obtained.     

Luminescence and generation of laser radiation in zinc selenide and cadmium sulfide single crystals exposed to high-voltage subnanosecond pulses

The action of high-voltage subnanosecond pulses on A^IIB^VI semiconductor compounds is studied. A negative pulse with a duration of up to 500 ps is applied to electrodes of a special shape. The pulse amplitude can be varied from 20 to 250 kV. Plane-parallel plates with a thickness of 1–2 mm made of bulk zinc selenide or cadmium sulfide single crystals are placed between the electrodes. Experiments are carried out in air without submerging single crystal plates in a liquid dielectric medium. As soon as a voltage pulse is applied, diverging discharges propagate from sharp edges of the negative electrode along electric field lines. With increasing voltage, generation of laser radiation is observed in the bulk of the semiconductor, displaying all its characteristic features, such as a sharp increase in the radiation power, narrowing the spectrum, and the radiation directionality. For zinc selenide at room temperature, the radiation characteristics are as follows: the wavelength is 480 nm, the radiation divergence is about 3°, and the peak pulse power is 600 W.