Low-temperature synthesis of hexamethylenetetramine-stabilised ZnS nanoparticles and its photocatalytic properties

ZnS nanoparticles have been synthesised at low temperature by short reaction (80 degrees C for 2h) via wet chemical route. The nanoparticles were stabilised using hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as surfactant in aqueous solution. The average particle size calculated from X-ray diffraction studies was about 4nm with cubic zincblende structure. The presence of HMTA in the synthesised ZnS nanoparticles was confirmed by FTIR studies. A significant blue shift was observed in the optical absorption band edge for the ZnS nanoparticles as compared to the bulk, indicating a strong quantum confinement. The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum showed a broad green emission peak at around 502nm. The photocatalytic property of HMTA-stabilised ZnS nanoparticles were investigated on the decolourisation of methylene blue aqueous solution under UV light irradiation.