N,N'-diisopropylthiourea and N,N'-dicyclohexylthiourea zinc(II) complexes as precursors for the synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles

The single X-ray crystal structures of zinc (II) complexes of N,N'-diisopropylthiourea and N,N'-dicyclohexylthiourea were determined. These complexes, similar to other alkylthioureas, were found to be effective as precursors for the preparation of hexadecylamine-capped ZnS nanoparticles. The complexes are air-stable, easy to prepare and inexpensive. They pyrolyse cleanly to give high-quality ZnS nanoparticles, which show quantum confinement effects in their absorption spectra and close to bandedge emission. Their broad diffraction patterns are typical of nanosized particles while their transmission electron microscopy images showed agglomerates of needle-like platelet nanoparticles.