AVS 45th International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Division Thursday Sessions
       Session NS-ThP

Paper NS-ThP19
Processing and Characterization of Nanometer Sized Copper Sulfide Particles

Thursday, November 5, 1998, 5:30 pm, Room Hall A

Session: Nanometer-Scale Science and Technology Division Poster Session
Presenter: L. Bracho, University of Central Florida
Authors: S. Seal, University of Central Florida
L. Bracho, University of Central Florida
C. Urbanik, University of Central Florida
M. Hampton, University of Central Florida
J. Morgiel, Polish Academy of Science
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Nanomaterials, commonly characterized by their size smaller than 100 nm, have attracted a scant attention in the modern-day technology. These materials provide unique physical, mechanical and chemical properties in the nano-crystalline state. In this paper, sulfide nanoparticles of industrial interest are formed by sol-gel process using metal chloride precursors dissolved in a mixture of silica gel and organic cellulose network followed by a reaction with hydrogen sulfide gas. Particles are then heated in a vacuum oven. Variations in the sol-gel composition are used to study the particle growth rate and fractal density resulting from the reactivity of the large surface area nano particles. While scanning and transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction are used to study their morphology and structure in the nanometer scale, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is employed to understand the bonding chemistry and the stoichiometry of the sulfide particles. XPS results show a change in the binding energy of the sulfide particles with various temperature treatments. Secondary ion mass spectrometry is also used to show the distribution of precursor elements with depth, i.e. the chemical reactivity from surface to bulk. Nanometer sized gold particles are also produced using this method. The results from this study are expected to show promising applications and production of other oxides, sulfides and their compounds using this modified sol-gel synthesis.