Sonochemical method for the synthesis of antimony sulfide microcrystallites with controllable morphology

Abstract

Spindlelike, rodlike, starlike, and spherical antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) microcrystallites have successfully been synthesized via a sonochemical method at room temperature. The x-ray diffraction pattern analysis based on the Rietveld method demonstrates that ultrasound can convert the structure of Sb₂S₃ from amorphous phase to crystalline phase. The crystallinity and morphology of Sb₂S₃ particles can be modified by using different solvents or solutions. It is found that the spindlelike and starlike particles result from the aggregation of nanoparticles while the rodlike particles arise from epitaxial growth. Due to the quantum confinement effect of charge carriers in small microcrystalline volumes, the characteristic peaks in the optical absorption spectrum of the synthesized 0.001 M Sb₂S₃ (<100 nm) colloidal solutions are blue-shifted by about 500 nm as compared to the bulk band gaps of Sb₂S₃.