Sonochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline mercury sulfide, selenide and telluride in aqueous solutions.
Nanocrystalline mercury chalcogenides HgE (E=S, Se, Te) were synthesized in a single step by a convenient, simple sonochemical method. Mercury nitrate, Hg(NO3)2, dissolved in 0.1 M ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), was used as the source of mercury and elemental chalcogenes, dissolved in a NaOH solution, as the sources of chalcogenide. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The synthesis procedure is simple and uses less toxic reagents than the previously reported methods. The results showed that the complexing agent EDTA plays a crucial role in the process.
Kristl
Matjaz
M
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia. matjaz.kristl@uni-mb.si
Drofenik
Miha
M