Molecular Approach to Mesoporous Metal Sulfides

Abstract

AbstractWe have synthesized metal-sulfide/surfactant nanocomposite materials by cooperative assembly of molecular precursors in an aqueous medium. The template-mediated synthetic approach is applicable to metal sulfides that exhibit aqueous thiometallate chemistry. The products are lamellar and have bilayers or interdigitated layers of surfactant molecules sandwiched between metal sulfide layers. The layers of anionic metal sulfide molecules are not completely condensed in the nanocomposites, which results in a negative charge on the metal sulfide layers. The materials are stable at room temperature in water, methanol, 1 M HCl, 30 wt% NH3, and 1 M NaOH. The materials do not dissolve at 80 °C in water and are stable to at least 180 0C in air. The nanocomposites exhibit ion exchange of smaller surfactants, alkali-metal ions, and divalent metal ions.