Synthesis and thermal study of SnS nanoflakes

Abstract

SnS nanoflakes were synthesized by chemical route at a temperature of 80 °C. Stannous chloride and sodium sulphide was used as a source of Sn2+ and S2− ions respectively. The elemental stoichiometric analysis of SnS nanoflakes was done by employing energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) technique. The structural study of the as-synthesized nanoflakes was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The grain size was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) data employing Scherrer’s formula and Hall–Williamson plot. The residual strain produced in the synthesized nanoflakes during the synthesis was obtained from Hall–Williamson plot. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that the synthesized nanoflakes have average crystallite size of 11 nm. The thermal decomposition of SnS nanoflakes was studied employing thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermogravimetric (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques. The thermal behaviour of SnS nanoflakes was compared with SnS single crystals. The thermal parameters were evaluated of the SnS nanoflakes using two most common thermal analysis methods; Broido and Coats-Redfern (CR) relations. Thermal activation energy, enthalpy change (ΔH*), entropy change (ΔS*) and free energy change (ΔG*) related to the thermal decomposition process were calculated for the SnS nanoflakes. The obtained results are discussed in details.