6533b823fe1ef96bd127f435

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Preparation and characterisation of Na 2 S and ZnSO 4 nanoparticles in water/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulphosuccinate/ n -heptane microemulsions

subject

description

The preparation procedure for nanoparticles of the water-soluble salts Na2S and ZnSO4, two commonly used reagents to synthesise ZnS nanoparticles, by evaporation of volatile components of salt-containing water-in-oil microemulsions is described. In suitable conditions, the evaporation leads to the formation of dry salt–surfactant composites and to the formation of Na2S or ZnSO4 nanoparticles. It was found that the salt–surfactant composites can be totally redissolved in a dry apolar organic solvent allowing the formation of virtually water-free solutions containing a considerable amount of the water-soluble salts. The presence of nanoparticles in these solutions and in the composites has been proved by small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. By mixing these solutions, the solid–solid reaction between Na2S and ZnSO4 nanoparticles leading to the formation of very small-sized ZnS nanoparticles has been ascertained by UV spectrophotometry.