Synthesis and Characterization of Water-soluble Sb2S3 Quantum Dots

Abstract

Taking thioacetamide (TAA) as sulfur source and mercaptoacetic acid as capping agent, water-soluble Sb2S3 quantum dots were synthesized in aqueous-phase with precipitation method. The influence of temperature (65 to 85 °C) and reaction time (3 to 7 h) on morphological characteristics of the products was studied. The as-prepared Sb2S3 quantum dots were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) and photoluminescence (PL), which suggested the Sb2S3 quantum dots have uniform size distribution and excellent optical properties. Moreover, a formation mechanism of Sb2S3 quantum dots was also proposed.