Optical properties and self-assembly of Ag2S nanoparticles synthesized by a one-pot method

Spherical silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles have been synthesized using a simple and one-pot route, which is a direct heating process using silver acetate and n-dodecanethiol as raw materials.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to confirm the size, morphology and crystal structure of as-obtained Ag2S nanoparticles. The size of the products can be tuned by controlling the reaction time, and the growth process of the samples has been studied by employing UV–vis absorption spectra. Furthermore, these Ag2S nanoparticles have a high tendency to self-assemble into two- or three-dimensional superlattice structures. This one-pot approach may be extended to synthesis of other metal sulfides nanoparticles.

► Spherical Ag2S nanoparticles were synthesized by a one-pot route.
► The growth process was studied by using UV–vis absorption spectra and XRD patterns.
► The Ag2S nanoparticles have a high tendency to self-assemble into superlattice structures.