Solvothermal synthesis and characterization of zinc sulphide nanoparticles

Zinc sulphide nanoparticles have been synthesized by solvothermal approach involving refluxing of an aqueous solution of zinc acetate and sodium sulphide in presence of ethylene glycol and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as surfactant. The nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The FESEM results indicate that the particles are almost spherical in shape with size varying in the range of 27.7–49.5 nm, whereas TEM micrograph indicates formation of particles of size in the range of 5–8 nm. EDX spectrum reveals the predominance of carbon, zinc, oxygen and sulphur.