Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and hydrogen storage of SnS nanorods

Stannous sulfide (SnS) with high absorption coefficient and dual nature semiconductivity is a promising candidate for solar cell fabrication. In the present research, the single crystalline SnS nanorods were synthesized using the hydrothermal growth technique. The as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Structural characterizations result have illustrated that length of the as-grown tin (II) sulfide nanorod is 1−2 μm, width is about 80 nm and thickness is few nanometers. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns have revealed that the as-synthesized SnS nanorods exist in single-crystalline nature. Two Raman modes 190.5 cm−1 and 219.6 cm−1 were observed by Raman spectroscopy, which are consistent with nanoorthorhombic SnS herzenbergite phase. The first ever study on hydrogen absorption characteristics of SnS nanorods performed at 373 K shows a good absorption capacity of 0.73 wt%.