Preparation, simulation and applications of monodisperse sulphur particles (overview)

Abstract

The current interest in monodispersed hard spheres is caused by their applicability to the fabrication of photon crystals, three-dimensional nanoporous materials, repellents, etc. The nucleation and growth of sulphur particles in solutions are also of importance because it is known that monodisperse colloid spherulites of solution-stable amorphous sulphur form in acidified aqueous solutions of thiosulfates. Homogeneous nucleation and growth of monodisperse spherulites of sulphur was studied using an original optical method for measuring relative scattering coefficient, based on alternative application of coherent radiation of two lasers with different wavelengths. The model for homogeneous nucleation of sulphur crystals has been developed, which considers the nuclei ranging from n to n × 10² atoms and uses the non-continuous calculations. By the change pH water solutions of thiosulphates and polysulphides of alkaline and alkaline earth metals were obtained submicronic globular particles of sulphur. Various ways of obtaining polymeric composites on the basis of nanosized particles of sulphur are studied. They are submitted based on the decomposition of unstable compounds of sulphur and the nucleation process of sulphur from multicomponent systems of high-supersaturation. Various aspects of application of sulphur nanoparticles in the agriculture, construction, coatings and in high technologies are considered.