Synthesis and Characterization of ZnS Nanoparticles by Chemical Precipitation Method

Abstract

Nanoparticles form a link between molecular and bulk state ofmatter and exhibit size dependent physical and chemical properties. In the present work we aimed to prepare zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method using sodium sulfide (Na2S.x H2O) as sulfur source and Zinc acetate dihydrate ((CH3COO)2Zn.2H2O) as a source of zinc . Characterization was performed by UV–Vis Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) , Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray Diffraction revealed that the Prepared ZnS nanoparticles comprise a Cubic structure and the average grain size of ZnS is 6.41 nm. UV–Vis spectrum exhibits quantum confinement effect by a very sharp peak around 345 nm remarkably blue shifted compared to its bulk counterpart. The optical band gap of the ZnS nanoparticles was found to be as 4.5 ev which is blue shifted from that of bulk ZnS (340 nm, Eg = 3.7 eV) , TEM micrograph depicts the spherical particles which are agglomerated with size 7.9 nm .