Diffuse reflectance and reflective flexible coatings of capped ZnS nanoparticles

• Diffuse reflectance of synthesised uncapped and thioglycerol capped ZnS nanoparticles has been studied.
• The capped nanoparticles showed maximum diffuse reflectance.
• Using this property and adjusting pH, binder ratio, etc., the reflective flexible coatings were made.

Thioglycerol capped ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical precipitation method and the effect of capping concentration on diffuse reflectance was studied. The comparative study of diffuse reflectance of commercial bulk ZnS particles with synthesised uncapped and capped nanoparticles has been made. ZnS nanoparticles capped with 0.50% of thioglycerol were found to be of uniform shape and size, with maximum diffuse reflectance of 93–94% in the visible region. The reflectors developed using these nanoparticles showed reflectance of 96.5–97.5% in the visible region with optimum coating thickness of 0.25 mm. These reflectors have also been found to be flexible.