Structural, morphological and optical properties of iron sulfide, cobalt sulfide, copper sulfide, zinc sulfide and copper-iron sulfide nanoparticles synthesized from single source precursors

Abstract

Iron sulfide (1), cobalt sulfide (2), copper sulfide (3), zinc sulfide (4), and copper-iron sulfide (5) nanoparticles were prepared from [Fe(dbzdtc)3], [Co(dbzdtc)3], [Cu(dbzdtc)2], [Zn(dbzdtc)2] and [Cu(dbzdtc)3][FeCl4] (where dbzdtc = N,N-dibenzyldithiocarbamate), respectively. The synthesized samples 1–5 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV–Vis, photoluminescence and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques. In the X-ray diffraction patterns of samples 1, 3–5, sharp peaks are observed which indicates that the as-prepared metal sulfide nanoparticles, 1,3–5 are crystalline. EDAX spectra confirm the composition of the metal sulfides. The SAED spots of as-prepared copper sulfide and zinc sulfide supports the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles 1–5 show a significant blue shift compared to that of the respective bulk metal sulfide. Infrared spectral studies on metal sulfides (Samples 1,2,4 and 5) confirm the presence of capping agent ethylenediamine (en).