Synthesis of CdS multipods from cadmium xanthate in ethylenediamine solution

Abstract

CdS nanocrystals of various shapes were synthesized by using cadmium ethyldithiocarbonatio (xanthate) as a single precursor under solvothermal condition. The reaction temperature, cadmium concentration, and solvents determine the CdS morphology. Multipodal CdS structures of different fractions of all particles were obtained at temperatures ranging from 100 to 180°C with the corresponding precursor concentrations in ethylenediamine (EDA) solution. This approach is different from that reported in the literature, where EDA is regarded as a solvent favorable to the formation of CdS nanorods instead of pods. Uniform CdS multipods were prepared at 160°C with 1.0g of cadmium xanthate. The formation of CdS multipods in EDA solution may be attributed to a synergistic effect between the reaction temperature and Cd concentration, i.e., thermodynamically and kinetically controlled growth of the CdS wurtzite (WZ) and zinc blende (ZB) phases, as confirmed by the structural characterization of the component CdS crystals. EDA and xanthate ligands act as co-assisted capping agents in the growth of CdS multipods. When using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethylene glycol (EG) as solvents, the CdS appears as triangular particles and flower-like microspheres assembled by polyhedrons, respectively.