Preparation of Sb2S3 nanostructures by the [BMIM][BF4] ionic liquid assisted low power sonochemical method

Sb2S3 nanorods were successfully synthesized by the ionic liquid assisted sonochemical method (ILASM). The starting reagents were Sb2Cl3, Thioacetamide, absolute ethanol (ETA) and the selected ionic liquid (IL) was 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]). The synthesized materials were subjected to 200 °C annealing treatment under controlled vacuum conditions. X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed that ultrasound irradiation played a key role on the crystallization degree of Sb2S3, whilst Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis showed that the addition of IL was fundamental for the formation of 1-D Sb2S3 nanostructures. XPS confirmed the formation of Sb2S3.The optical properties (band gap) were similar to previously reported for bulk Sb2S3.