Synthesis of size tuneable cadmium sulphide nanoparticles from a single source precursor using ammonia as the solvent

Size tuneable cadmium sulphide nanoparticles of a few nanometres in size were prepared by thermolysis of a single source precursor of cadmium xanthates with variable carbon chain length (Cd(ROCS2)2, where R denotes –C2H5, –C4H9, –C8H17 and –C12H25, respectively) in an ammonia solution. The particle size, morphology and crystallinity of these nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray powder diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption techniques. The results show that hexagonal CdS nanoparticles can be produced by thermolysis of cadmium alkyl xanthate in an ammonia solution at a temperature as low as 100 °C. The size of CdS particles (between 5.60 nm and 3.71 nm) decreases with increasing length of carbon chain in the precursor, as further confirmed by UV–visible and fluorescence spectrophotometric measurements. The size tuning mechanism of CdS from cadmium alkyl xanthate is also discussed.

Graphical abstractUV–vis absorption spectra for CdS prepared by decomposing cadmium xanthates (Cd(ROCS2)2) exhibit a marked blue-shift with increasing the alkyl chain length (where R denotes: (a) –C2H5, (b) –C4H9, (c) –C8H17, and (d) –C12H25, respectively), indicating the progressive size reduction of formed CdS nanoparticles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using a single source precursor. ► Tailoring the nanocrystal sizes using cadmium alkyl xanthate with different carbonyl length. ► Preparation in an environment-friendly solvent.