Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

ZnS and CdS based nanomaterials: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity

3^rd International Conference on Nanotek & Expo

December 02-04, 2013 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Petr Praus

Posters: J Nanomed Nanotechnol

Abstract:

ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were prepared by precipitation of zinc and cadmium acetate with sodium sulphide in the presence of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The nanoparticles with the radius of 2.0-2.2 nm were prepared. ZnS and CdS nanoparticles had the hexagonal and cubic structure, respectively. The dispersions of ZnS, CdS nanoparticles and CTAB were investigated by means of several instrumental techniques and also by molecular modelling methods. Based on zeta potentials measurements and results of molecular simulations it was found that ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were covered by CTAB arranged into bilayers forming positively charged micelles. These micelles were immobilized on particles of the clay mineral montmorillonite (MMT). ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were mostly deposited in micro- and mesopores of MMT that were closed during drying. The resulting nanocomposites contained 4-7 wt. % of ZnS, resp. CdS. The MMT nanocomposites along with free ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were applied for the photocatalytic decomposition of phenol, nitrous oxide and photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. Using free nanoparticles as well as the nanocomposites the 90% efficiency of the phenol decomposition was achieved. For the reduction of CO 2 the nanocomposites were more suitable. They provided 5-6 fold higher efficiency than the commercial TiO 2 catalyst (Evonik P25) in production of hydrogen and methane. In case of the N 2 O decomposition ZnS nanoparticles and the ZnS-MMT nanocomposite were also more efficient (80%) than TiO2 (57%)

Biography :

Petr Praus obtained his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from University of Pardubice. He is a full professor in the field of Material Science and Engineering at VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. He is an author or co-author of more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals. His research is focused on synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic applications of nanomaterials.