Synthesis of copper sulphide nanoparticles in carboxylic acids as solvent

A novel method for the preparation of CuS nanoparticles based on the fast nucleation of the sulphide has been developed. The particles have been synthesized by reaction of thioacetic acid with water and copper carboxylates (acetate, propionate) in the corresponding carboxylic acid (acetic, propionic) as a solvent. The use of carboxylic acids presents several advantages: (i) the hydrolysis of the C–S bond is favoured thus producing a fast CuS supersaturation and a high nucleation rate; (ii) the mobility of the precursor molecules is limited so that nucleation events are favoured with respect to particle growth; (iii) the low dielectric constant of the medium stabilises the nanoparticles dispersion by reducing the critical coagulation concentration. The prepared nanoparticles were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The nanoparticle suspensions are clear and characterized by a blue-shifted adsorption edge with respect to bulk CuS. Light scattering measurements performed on acetic acid suspensions evidence the formation of monodispersed nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 5 nm.