Loading of HgS Nanoparticles on the Silica Microspheres

Abstract

HgS nanoparticles were loaded on the silica microspheres by an improved layer-by-layer self-assembled technique following low temperature heat-treatment. The optical properties of HgS nanoparticles on the silica microspheres were characterized with UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results suggested that the HgS nanoparticles were formed on the silica microspheres, and the average size of particles was approximately 15 nm. The direct band gap of the loaded HgS nanoparticles was calculated to be 2.4 eV from the absorption spectrum, which was blue-shifted by 0.4 eV from its bulk value due to quantum size effect. The photoluminescence showed a broad emission around 440 nm from sulfur vacancies. These results indicate that the optical properties of HgS nanoparticles loaded on the silica microspheres are similar to those of free HgS nanoparticles, which is encouraging for potential applications.