Nucleation and growth of surfactant-passivated CdS and HgS nanoparticles: Time-dependent absorption and luminescence profiles

Abstract

In this study, we have monitored the formation of CdS and HgS nanoparticles (NPs) using a precipitation method in the presence of surface-active agents. Three surfactants were tested to analyze the dependence of various parameters such as size, growth rate, photoluminescence (PL) emission and polydispersity of NPs on surfactant structure. Optical absorption spectroscopy was mainly used to estimate the optical bandgap and the size of NPs. The surfactant-induced quenching of PL intensity was found to be consistent with the different tendencies of the surfactants to act as Lewis acids towards these surfaces. The time-evolution of the absorbance suggested that the nucleation and growth rates markedly vary in a first-order fashion w.r.t. Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ salt concentration in excess of sulfide ions. The differences in the stabilization ability of the surfactants are discussed in reference to their structure-dependent adsorption behavior onto the particles. The comparative aspects of the different properties of CdS and HgS NPs prepared with identical methodology are presented in terms of metal cation–surfactant interactions. Changes in UV–vis and PL spectra during nucleation and growth of NPs were used to establish the possible mechanisms for the adsorption of surfactant molecules on the particle surface to restrict the unlimited growth.