Structural, morphological and optical properties of iron sulfide, cobalt sulfide, copper sulfide, zinc sulfide and copper-iron sulfide nanoparticles synthesized from single source precursors

Iron sulfide (1), cobalt sulfide (2), copper sulfide (3), zinc sulfide (4), and copper-iron sulfide (5) nanoparticles were prepared from [Fe(dbzdtc)(3)], [Co(dbzdtc)(3)], [Cu(dbzdtc)(2)], [Zn(dbzdtc)(2)] and [Cu(dbzdtc)(3)][FeCl4] (where dbzdtc = N,N-dibenzyldithiocarbamate), respectively. The synthesized samples 1-5 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-Vis, photoluminescence and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques. In the X-ray diffraction patterns of samples 1, 3-5, sharp peaks are observed which indicates that the as-prepared metal sulfide nanoparticles, 1,3-5 are crystalline. EDAX spectra confirm the composition of the metal sulfides. The SAED spots of as-prepared copper sulfide and zinc sulfide supports the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles 1-5 show a significant blue shift compared to that of the respective bulk metal sulfide. Infrared spectral studies on metal sulfides (Samples 1,2,4 and 5) confirm the presence of capping agent ethylenediamine (en).