The nanoscale semiconductor mercuric\r\nsulphide (HgS) has promising applications in electronic\r\nand optical fields. Continued development of synthesis\r\nmethods is needed to expand approaches that produce\r\nuniform particles, while avoiding reagents of high\r\ntoxicityandecologicalimpact.Asolventbasedapproach\r\nwas developed using mercuric chloride and elemental\r\nsulphur as the mercury and chalcogenide sources.\r\nEthanolwasusedasthesolventandsodiumhydroxideas\r\nthehydrolysisreagent.Useofmildsonicationresultedin\r\nsmaller particles (average 11nm diameter) than without\r\nsonication treatment (average 17nm diameter) and\r\ncontinuousnitrogenpurgingreducedthesurfaceoxygen\r\ncontent of the particles from approximately 25% to 6%.\r\nParticle characterization methods included TEM, XRD,\r\nXPS,UVvisible absorbance spectroscopy and DLS. The\r\nnanoparticles were typically spheres of 1015nm in\r\ndiameter. Aggregates formed in aqueous solutions\r\ntendedtobeintherangeof100nmormore.Theoverall\r\nprocess can be performed simply at room temperature\r\nandiscomparativelyfreeoftoxicchemicalhazards.The\r\nprocess does not include surfactants or other stabilizers\r\nthat could potentially contaminate the nanocrystals. In\r\nprinciple, the method could be applied to synthesis of\r\nothermetalchalcogenidenanoparticles.
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