Surfactant free metal chalcogenides microparticles consisting of nano size crystallites: room temperature synthesis driven by the supersaturated condition

Abstract

A versatile methodology for the production of organic surfactant-free metal chalcogenide microparticles consisting of nano crystallites at room temperature in a short time is described. The reaction of various metal sources with $$\hbox {LiBH}_{4}$$ in the presence of either S or Se yielded their corresponding CuS, $$\hbox {Cu}_{2}\hbox {S}$$ , CdS and $$\hbox {Cu}_{2\hbox {-}\mathrm{z}}\hbox {Se}$$ microparticles. These micron size particles are aggregates of nano crystallites. The reactivity of $$\hbox {LiBH}_{4}$$ and supersaturated condition helped in the formation nanocrystals. The first observation of metal source dependent morphology of particles produced under identical reaction condition is also discussed. The morphology of CuS particles obtained in these reactions was varying with the change of metal source used in the reaction. Interestingly, the reactions producing metal chalcogenide microparticles also yielded borane $$(\hbox {BH}_{3})$$ as a side product. SYNOPSIS Surfactant-free CuS, $$\hbox {Cu}_{2}\hbox {S}$$ , CdS and $$\hbox {Cu}_{2\hbox {-}\mathrm{x}}\hbox {Se}$$ microparticles were produced at room temperature within one hour of reaction time under supersaturated condition. Morphology of CuS microparticles obtained in these reactions was varying with a change of metal ion source used in the reaction.