TITLE:
Synthesis and Characterization of CdS, ZnS and CdZnS Nanoparticles Embedded in Polystyrene
AUTHORS:
Olumide Oluwole Akinwunmi, Gabriel O. Egharevba, Ezekiel Oladele Bolarinwa Ajayi
KEYWORDS:
Nano-Particle; Nano-Composite
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Modern Physics,
Vol.5 No.5,
March
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: The nano
dispersions (colloids) of Cadmium Sulfide, Zinc Sulfide and Cadmium Zinc
Sulfide were prepared by modified metathesis reaction between CdCl2,
ZnCl2 and Na2S. The prepared sulfides were embedded in
polystyrene to form nano-composites. The size, morphology and composition of
the nanoparticles on the surface of the composites were examined by using
UV/VIS Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution
Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). The UV-spectrum shows a shift in
the band gap towards high energy while the High Resolution Transmission
Electron Microscope (HRTEM) analysis shows well resolved nanoparticles with
particle sizes between 2-10 nm. The SEM shows that the nanoparticles are in
form of nano clusters. The blue shift of the absorption band makes it possible
to evaluate the size of the nanocrystallites, which is in agreement with that
obtained from HRTEM. The composition as revealed by the EDS shows that the
ratios of Cd:S, Zn:S and Cd:Zn:S are approximately 23:20, 58:42 and 32:35:33,
respectively. The PIXE spectra confirmed the presence of expected elements and
also reveal the presence of impurities.