Abstract
ZnS nanoparticles were precipitated in diluted aqueous solutions of zinc and sulphide ions without capping additives at a temperature interval of 0.5-20A degrees C. ZnS nanoparticles were arranged in large flocs that were disaggregated into smaller agglomerates with hydrodynamic sizes of 70-150 nm depending on temperature.
A linear relationship between hydrodynamic radius (R (a) ) and temperature (T) was theoretically derived as R (a) =652 - 2.11 T. The radii of 1.9-2.2 nm of individual ZnS nanoparticles were calculated on the basis of gap energies estimated from their UV absorption spectra.
Low zeta potentials of these dispersions of -5.0 mV to -6.3 mV did not depend on temperature. Interactions between individual ZnS nanoparticles were modelled in the Material Studio environment.
Water molecules were found to stabilize ZnS nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions.