Growth and characterization of Ag2S semiconductor nanoparticles

Abstract

In past decades, the semiconducting chalcogenide nanocrystals has attracted much attention because of their uniqueness in terms of shape and size-dependent optical, physical, chemical and thermal properties resulting from quantum confinement effect. Among these semiconductors nanoparticles silver sulfide (Ag2S) is a narrow-band gap semiconductor and promising applications in the field of optoelectronics, photodetectors, photo-rechargeable, switching devices, electrochemical potential memory devices, etc. Different synthesis methods such as sol–gel method, hydrothermal method, sonochemical method are available to prepare Ag2S nanoparticles. Among these methods, aqueous method is cost effective, easy to synthesis and low energy consumption. Here, we report the synthesis of Ag2S Semiconductor Nanoparticles (SC NPs) by co-precipitation method using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as passivating molecules. Hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H2O) – sulfur complex is used as source of sulfur for the preparation of Ag2S nanoparticles.Growth of Ag2S nanoparticles are controlled by concentration of the precursors, reaction time and concentration of the capping molecule. Ag2S SC NPs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, optical absorption, photoluminescence and transmission electron microcopy. The particle size is estimated using Debye-Schrrer’s formula is 12 nm. TEM image shows the good homogeneity of particle size distribution and estimated particles is about 14 nm. The as prepared Ag2S nanoparticles exhibit monoclinic phase. The present method of synthesis of Ag2S nanoparticles is simple, cost effective and useful for biomedical, textiles and water treatment applications.