Synthesis of zinc sulfide multi-scale agglomerates by homogeneous precipitation–parametric study and mechanism

When zinc sulfide is prepared by homogeneous precipitation from an acid solution of zinc sulfate and thioacetamide in a stirred reactor, it is generally obtained in the form of four-scale agglomerates. This paper is intended to progress in the understanding of the nature of the construction stages of these agglomerates. For this, successive size scales are studied as a function of several operating parameters: pH, concentration in reactants, temperature and stirring rate. Microscopic characterization is performed at different times of the precipitation process. The successive steps of construction of the multi-scale structure aggregates are discussed in the context of the model of Eshuis and Koning, Coll. Polymer Sci. 272 (1994) 1240 and Eshuis et al. Colloid and Surfaces, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 151 (1999) 505.