Cd2+ Counterion-Assisted Synthesis of Uniform CdS Nanospheres Capped with the Anionic Surfactant Sodium dodecylsulfate

Uniform cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanospheres were successfully prepared in the presence of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) at an appropriate concentration and relatively low temperature. Zeta potential data were collected for the three kinds of CdS particles to verify the existence of the Cd²⁺counterion on the CdS surface and Charge reversal; this was crucial for the explanation of how the anionic SDS surfactant molecules adsorbed on the negatively charged surface. Moreover, we confirmed that SDS had coated the surface of CdS nanospheres using infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. An counterion assisted mechanism accounting for synthesis of CdS nanospheres could be widely used in the synthesis of nanomaterials if there is specific adsorption of the counterion. The CdS nanospheres showed good performance for the rapid adsorption of methylene blue.