title: Preparation and characterization of ZnS nanoparticles deposited on montmorillonite.
abstract: ZnS nanoparticles were prepared and deposited on montmorillonite (MMT) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA). UV spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) proved the formation of nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 3 nm to 5 nm. Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns revealed the presence of romboedric ZnS. The band gap energy of nanosize ZnS was estimated at 3.89 ± 0.03 eV. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited a strong emission band between 300 nm and 600 nm explained by the vacant ZnS nanostructure. The prepared ZnS-montmorillonite nanocomposite (ZnS-MMT) was used for the photocatalytic reduction of CO(2) providing a considerably high efficiency that exceeded 5-6-fold the results of commercial TiO(2) Degussa P25. The main reaction products were hydrogen and methane. Methanol and carbon oxide were also observed in about 7-fold lower amounts. The stability of ZnS against oxidation was confirmed by the determination of sulphate using capillary isotachophoresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry and Material Testing, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17, listopadu 15, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kozák
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Praus
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kočí
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klementová
mesh_terms: D001546:Bentonite / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013440:Sulfides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D001546:Bentonite; C031238:zinc sulfide; D000077286:Cetrimonium