Microwave synthesis of nanocrystalline metal sulfides in formaldehyde solution

Nanocrystalline metal (Cu, Hg, Zn, Bi, Pb) sulfides with different shapes and different particle sizes have been successfully prepared in a formaldehyde solution of metal salt and thioacetamide by microwave irradiation. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the products were pure orthorhombic Bi2S3 phase, cubic phase HgS, hexagonal phase CuS, cubic phase ZnS, cubic phase PbS, respectively. The products were also characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Ultraviolet reflection spectrum clearly indicates the presence of quantum size effects in ZnS.