A simple method for the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using a novel surfactant

In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of CdS nanoparticles suitable for semiconductor applications using a simple and manufacturable process. The solution based process was synthetized at room temperature using cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate (Cd (NO₃)₂.4 H₂O 0.1 M) and a Thioacetamide (C2H5NS (TA) 0.5 M) as source of cadmium and sulfur, respectively. The effect of the concentration of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a surface stabilizer or surfactant for growth control of CdS nanoparticles was studied. The PEI concentrations were varied as 1 M, 0.5 M, 0.25 M, and 0.01 M respectively. Optical properties of CdS were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy; functional groups were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle size for CdS nanoparticles were less than 80 nm. An increase in size was observed inversely to the PEI concentration.