Synthesis of Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductors by Thermal Decomposition of Organosulfur and Organoselenium Compounds

Metal chalcogenides – because of their excellent optical and electrical properties – are important semiconductor materials for optical devices, such as solar cells, sensors, and photocatalysts. The challenges associated with metal chalcogenides are the complexity of the conventional synthesis methods and the stringent synthesis conditions. In this study, the synthesis conditions were simplified in a solvent-free synthesis method using cadmium precursor, thiourea and selenium to synthesize metal chalcogenides, such as CdS and CdSe, which have particularly suitable band gaps for the optical devices. CdS_xSe_1-x solid solution was successfully synthesized under molten thiourea as the reactive reaction medium at relatively low temperatures, even at 180 °C, with residual melamine derivatives in the solid phase. The luminescence properties of CdS_xSe_1-x and the products in the gas and solid phases were investigated. Optimization of the synthesis conditions for solid solutions of CdS_xSe_1-x and the role of organic compounds in the formation of metal chalcogenides are discussed.     

Chalcogen-containing metal chelates as single-source precursors of nanostructured materials: recent advances and future development

Abstract

The analysis of the use of chalcogenide metal chelates as single-source precursors of nanostructured materials has been carried out. The influence of the nature of the ligand, temperature, capping agents, thermolysis time, and solvent on the kinetic laws of thermolysis and the properties of the resulting nanomaterials is considered. Particular attention is paid to thermolysis of polynuclear chalcogenide metal chelates. The basic data on the synthesis of metal-polymer nanocomposites by thermolysis of chalcogenide metal chelates in the presence of polymers are summarized. The problems and future prospects of obtaining nanostructured materials by thermolysis of chalcogenide metal chelates are outlined. The bibliography includes articles published during the last 5 years.     

Electrochemical interfaces on chalcogenides: Some structural perspectives and synergistic effects of single-surface active sites

The use of single-atom metals (SAM) as catalysts of energy conversion reactions is a recent topic, which has gained popularity in the last two decades. Transition metal dichalcogenides emerged as important electrocatalysts since it was discovered that their chalcogenide edge sites are active towards the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and could also serve as supports for other metals within the same applications. Currently, several groups have reported a novel metal?chalcogenide arrangement, with the possibility of isolating metals at specific sites on chalcogenides to enhance their properties resulting in a synergistic effect in which both chalcogenide and single-atom metal features are exploited, either as promoters or active sites. Theoretical studies have been the basis of these reports.     

Considering the polynuclear complexes in the ionic equilibria of the Pb2+-H2O system

Analysis of conditions of the lead hydroxide and sulfide formation in the Pb²⁺-H₂O system was carried out with accounting for the formation of polynuclear hydroxo-complexes. This allows predicting a possibility of the lead hydroxide formation in the solution before the beginning of the synthesis of lead sulfide. The domains of the stable formation of Pb(OH)₂ and PbS were calculated for the systems containing lead citrate complexes and hydroxo-complexes. The proposed calculation method can be used for the quantitative determination of the reaction mixture composition and development of the chemical deposition technology of lead chalcogenides in different morphological forms: nanocrystalline powders (hydrophobic sol), quantum dots, heterostructures of the core@shell type or films. The proposed calculation method is applicable to other chalcogenide systems containing metal ions forming mononuclear and polynuclear hydroxo-complexes.     

Facile synthesis of ternary AgInS2 nanowires and their self-assembly of fingerprint-like nanostructures

Nanowires (NWs) and self-assemble nanostructures made of chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) are of great interests to the fundamental studies and practical applications. In this study, we reported a seeded-mediated growth of AgInS₂ NWs and their intriguing self-assembly nanostructures with fingerprint-like shape. The key to the formation and self-assembly of AgInS₂ NWs was the presence of In-S species that was a type of molecular metal chalcogenide complexes, serving as specific inorganic ligands for the growth of NWs and cross-linker molecules for the self-assembly of fingerprint-like nanostructures. Systematic studies were carried out to investigate the reaction factors, including the thermodynamics, amount and type of In precursors, and 1-dodecanethiol usage, to the success of the desired products.     

Engineering strength, porosity, and emission intensity of nanostructured CdSe networks by altering the building-block shape

The effect of primary particle shape on the porosity, mechanical strength, and luminescence intensity of metal chalcogenide aerogels was probed by comparison of CdSe aerogels prepared from spherical and rod-shaped particles. Rod-shaped particles yield aerogels with polymeric morphologies in contrast to the colloidal morphology obtained from spherical particles. Relative to the colloidal analogues, the polymeric CdSe aerogels exhibit twice the surface area, a doubling of the complex viscosity for 5 wt % aerogel-PDMS composites, and a 25-fold increase in emission intensity. Altering the shape of the building block from which nanostructured networks are assembled is an effective way to tune the basic properties of metal chalcogenide semiconducting aerogels.     

The formation and kinetics of Ionized Cluster Beams

The formation and kinetics of large vapourized-material cluster beams (large size metal clusters) are discussed. The clusters are formed by injecting the vapour of solid state materials into a high vacuum region through a nozzle of a heated crucible. The conditions under which metal clusters form are analysed using nucleation theory. Computer simulation by combining the nucleation and flow equations has also been made. The results show that the theory can be useful in predicting qualitative dependences of metal cluster formation on operation conditions. Several experimental results are also presented, which support the finding that a large size metal cluster is formed by homogeneous nucleation and growth. The advantageous characteristics of ionized cluster beam for thin film formation are also discussed.     

A large indium sulfide supertetrahedral cluster built from integration of ZnS-like tetrahedral shell with NaCl-like octahedral core

An entirely new type of chalcogenide cluster and a new structural mechanism for the formation of large semiconducting tetrahedral clusters have been revealed as a result of crystallization of a templated indium sulfide consisting of an unprecedented cluster, In(38)S(65), which is the largest supertetrahedral cluster based on trivalent metal ions. At the core of this cluster is In(10)S(13), which can be considered as a fragment of the NaCl-type lattice. The In(10)S(13) cluster is coupled to four In(4)S(10) supertetrahedral T2 clusters and four In(3)S(3) hexagonal rings to give In(38)S(65), which is also the largest inorganic chalcogenide supertetrahedral cluster, superseding a supertetrahedral T5 cluster with only 35 metal sites.     

Magnesium-induced copper-catalyzed synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenide compounds from aryl iodide via cleavage of the Se-Se or S-S bond

The methodology for a copper-catalyzed preparation of diaryl chalcogenide compounds from aryl iodides and diphenyl dichalcogenide molecules is reported. Unsymmetrical diaryl sulfide or diaryl selenide can be synthesized from aryl iodide and PhYYPh (Y = S, Se) with a copper catalyst (CuI or Cu(2)O) and magnesium metal in one pot. This reaction can be carried out under neutral conditions according to an addition of magnesium metal as the reductive reagent. Furthermore, it is efficiently available for two monophenylchalcogenide groups generated from diphenyl dichalcogenide.     

Solid State Synthesis and Crystal Structure of K3SI

1 INTRODUCTION The alkali metal chalcogenide halides have at- tracted considerable interests since last decades due to their abundant interesting structures and good properties with potential applications[1~8]. The type of M3QX (M = alkali metal, Q = chalcogenide; X = halide) compounds has been well studied. The known structure types of these compounds are only ternary alkali metal oxide halides and can be classified as the following species: 1) cubic anti-perovskite type, such as K3O…     

New Forms and Functions of Tellurium: From Polycations to Metal Halide Tellurides

Metal chalcogenides and metal chalcogenide halides are distinguished by their structural diversity and by their very different physical properties. Therefore, the synthesis of novel compounds from this class is always a rewarding goal for the preparatively oriented solid-state chemist. Over the past few years, many syntheses and structural investigations have stimulated the field. The emphasis of the research has been placed on selenium-rich and tellurium-rich compounds, which are characterized by directed covalent bonds between the chalcogen atoms. Compounds with novel chalcogen polycations have also become accessible during the past few years by reacting the chalcogen elements with transition metal halides, or from chemical vapor deposition in the sense of chemical transport reactions. In these compounds, tellurium differs from its lighter homologues by a pronounced tendency towards greater covalence. This article attmepts to provide an overview of new developments in the field of compounds with chalcogen polycations and of metal chalcogenide halides, with an emphasis on compounds containing molybdenum and tungsten as the transition metals and tellurium as the chalcogen.     

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and kinetic theory of gas mixtures in the presence of interfaces

A broad range of the boundary value problems of the kinetic theory of gases and gas mixtures is considered based on kinetic theory and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. The interrelation of the kinetic theory and non-equilibrium thermodynamics is discussed. The balance equations at the interface are obtained for the case of the boundary layers with peculiar properties. Procedures for deriving the boundary conditions for slightly rarefied gas mixtures are outlined. The problems of calculating slip coefficients are discussed. The specificity of the kinetic effects in the boundary conditions is shown. A set of general relations related to gas mixture flows in capillaries is deduced. The possibility of non-equilibrium kinetic effects in the form of a paradoxical distribution of non-equilibrium temperature is shown. Methods of non-equilibrium thermodynamics are used to obtain the phenomenological equations describing the thermophoresis and diffusiophoresis of particles and cross phenomena. The growth and evaporation of droplets is considered based on kinetic theory and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.     

Mesostructured selenides with cubic MCM-48 type symmetry: large framework elasticity and uncommon resiliency to strong acids

The metal mesostructured Pt/Sn/Se chalcogenides with cubic MCM-48 type pore symmetry are found to be surprisingly stable in concentrated oxidizing acids. Their metal chalcogenide framework exhibits high flexibility during reversible proton exchange as it expands and contracts in an apparent breathing-like action.     

Control of Silver(I)–Dialkyl Chalcogenide Coordination by a Synthetic Cavity

The discrete cavity of a self‐assembled palladium–tris(4‐pyridyl)triazine cage dictates the ratio of metal, ligand, and a non‐coordinative molecule in the formation of silver(I)–dialkyl chalcogenide (Et, nBu; S, Se) complexes and defines their coordination arrangement.     

Chalcogels: porous metal-chalcogenide networks from main-group metal ions. Effect of surface polarizability on selectivity in gas separation

We report the synthesis of metal-chalcogenide gels and aerogels from anionic chalcogenide clusters and linking metal ions. Metal ions such as Sb(3+) and Sn(2+), respectively chelated with tartrate and acetate ligands, react in solution with the chalcogenide clusters to form extended polymeric networks that exhibit gelation phenomena. Chalcogenide cluster anions with different charge densities, such as [Sn(2)S(6)](4-) and [SnS(4)](4-), were employed. In situ rheological measurements during gelation showed that a higher charge density on the chalcogenide cluster favors formation of a rigid gel network. Aerogels obtained from the gels after supercritical drying have BET surface areas from 114 to 368 m(2)/g. Electron microscopy images coupled with nitrogen adsorption measurements showed the pores are micro (below 2 nm), meso (2-50 nm), and macro (above 50 nm) regions. These chalcogels possess band gaps in the range of 1.00-2.00 eV and selectively adsorb polarizable gases. A 2-fold increase in selectivity toward CO(2)/C(2)H(6) over H(2) was observed for the Pt/Sb/Ge(4)Se(10)-containing aerogel compared to aerogel containing Pt(2)Ge(4)S(10). The experimental results suggest that high selectivity in gas adsorption is achievable with high-surface-area chalcogenide materials containing heavy polarizable elements.     

Pushing up the size limit of chalcogenide supertetrahedral clusters: two- and three-dimensional photoluminescent open frameworks from (Cu(5)In(30)S(54))(13-) clusters

Direct band gap copper indium chalcogenides are of great technological importance in part because of their high photovoltaic conversion efficiency. Covalent superlattices constructed from copper indium chalcogenide clusters are of particular interest because they may combine open framework architecture with semiconducting properties. Here two photoluminescent covalent superlattices built from core-shell type copper indium sulfide supertetrahedral clusters are reported. Each cluster consists of 35 metal cations and is so far the largest known supertetrahedral cluster with a metal-to-metal distance of 1.6 nm. In addition, this is the first example of supertetrahedral clusters in heterometallic copper indium chalcogenides. The preparation of these large clusters has narrowed down the size gap between colloidal nanoclusters and small supertetrahedral clusters and revealed new possibilities in the construction of nanoporous semiconducting superlattices with tunable pore size. Through the combination of metal ions with different oxidation states to provide both overall and local charge neutrality, an effective approach has been demonstrated in the rational synthesis of chalcogenide open framework materials with large and unprecedented supertetrahedral clusters.     

Semi-analytical modeling of non-premixed counterflow combustion of metal dust

In this study, a semi-analytical model is developed for non-premixed combustion of metal dusts in counterflow configuration. Combustion domain is divided into three separate zones, each of which possesses corresponding mass and energy conservation equations as well as boundary and jump conditions. Metal dust, assumed to be aluminum, undergoes an Arrhenius-type reaction with oxidizer, when it is heated enough to reach the ignition temperature. Dimensionless forms of conservation equations are derived and utilized to elucidate the combustion characteristics. The effects of oxidizer Lewis number and fuel mass concentration on the flame position and temperature are discussed thoroughly. In addition, temperature distribution of the whole domain is calculated by numerically solving the system of partial differential equations. In order to track particles through combustion domain, Lagrangian equations of motion are solved either mathematically or numerically, considering thermophoretic, weight, buoyancy and drag forces. The effects of thermophoretic force on the particle path are investigated, and the deviation of particle from carrier neutral gas direction is obtained. The results showed a great agreement with the data reported in the literature highlighting the fact that the presented model is an efficient one to accurately model the non-premixed counterflow combustion of metal dust.

     

Why should transition metal chalcogenides be investigated as water splitting precatalysts even though they transform into (oxyhydr)oxides?

The extensive investigation of 3d transition metal chalcogenide (sulphides, selenides, tellurides) precatalysts has shown that they transform into (oxyhydr)oxides during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and likely during industrial hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) conditions, as predicted by their Pourbaix diagrams. The phases formed from chalcogenide precatalysts are often more active, due to anion leaching induced effects. But are chalcogenides suitable to be used sacrificially, are they abundant, cheap, and non-toxic enough? Is their unique chemical nature really required? This review answers these questions by discussing the role of chalcogenides in the reconstruction/transformation process. Furthermore, it examines the role of remaining traces of chalcogenates (sulphate, selenate) that were recently shown to improve the OER activity and can break the 1OH/1OOH scaling relations.     

Zinc sulfide surface formation on Hg electrode during cyclic voltammetric scan: an implication for previous and future research studies on metal sulfide systems

Cyclic voltammetry on the Hg electrode was used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of NaCl/NaHCO₃ electrolyte solutions supersaturated with respect to Zn sulfide phases. The voltammetric results clearly show how an Hg electrode, due to exchange between Hg²⁺ from an HgS_adlayer and Zn²⁺ from solution, becomes the site for surface ZnS_adlayer formation in the potential range ?0.45 to ?0.6?V. The exchange reaction is reversible, and the surface-formed ZnS_adlayer persists at the Hg electrode surface until ?1.3?V during cathodic scans. Near ?1.3?V, it is reduced. In the same solution, evidence for reduction of bulk Zn sulfide species including nanoparticles was not obtained. The approach emphasized here can be readily extended to any other system consisting of metal electrode and chalcogenide anions, pointing to the importance of choosing experimental conditions (i.e., deposition potential, stirring, and accumulation times) to avoid artifacts and wrong interpretation of data due to surface formation of metal sulfide species.     

A Solution‐based Method for Synthesizing Pyrite‐type Ferrous Metal Sulfide Microspheres with Efficient OER Activity

Simple and stable synthesis of transition metal sulfides and clarification of their growth mechanisms are of great importance for developing catalysts, metal‐air batteries and other technologies. In this work, we developed a one‐step facile hydrothermal approach to successfully synthesize NiS₂ microspheres. By changing the experimental parameters, the reason that affects the formation of nanostructured spheres is investigated and discussed in detail, and the formation mechanism of microspheres is proposed innovatively. Furthermore, electrochemical testing results show that the 7 h‐NiS₂ catalyst exhibits a remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with an overpotential of 311 mV at 10 mA cm^?2 in 1.0 M KOH, superior to precious metal RuO₂. The NiS₂ catalyst also exhibits a robust durability. This work will contributes to the rational design and the understanding of growth mechanism of transition metal chalcogenide electrocatalysts for diverse energy conversion technologies.