Synthesis of CdS nanostructure from cadmium (II)-Salophen precursor by thermal deposition: optical and electrochemical properties

Abstract

Background: In recent years, semiconductor materials have been of great research interest due to their novel properties and potential applications [1, 2]. Among these materials, CdS has been used in photocatalysis, optoelectronics, and photoluminescence and many fields such as light emitting diodes, thin film transistors, solar cells and so on [3]. In this study CdS nanostructure synthesized using the Cd(II)-Salophen complex (an aromatic tetradentate Cd(II)-Schiff base complex) and anhydrous sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) as sulfur source. Also, the optical and electrochemical properties of CdS nanoparticles are discussed in this study. Methods: H2Salophen was prepared by 1, 2-phenylenediamine and salicylaldehyde in ethanol solvent. Cadmium Salophen Complex was synthesized from solution of Cd(II)-acetate and asprepared Schiff base ligand in ethanol. Then, CdS nanostructures were synthesized by the direct reaction of Cd(II)-Salophen complex and Na2S2O3 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent. The prepared nanostructures have been characterized structurally, electrochemically and optically by available methods like X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra. Results: The XRD pattern of synthesized sample, indicated the pure crystalline CdS fabricating under such conditions. The average crystalline size of the as-synthesized CdS nanostructures was calculated to be about 4 nm using Scherrer formula. Cyclic voltammetric shows that the current intensity and potential of the redox peaks are increased by increasing the scanning rate. Also, the obtained CdS nanostructure shows the special optical properties which was presented at photoluminescence spectroscopy and UV–Vis absorption spectra. Conclusions: In this work, CdS nanostructures have been successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method and a new precursor. The choice of the Cd(II)-Salophen complex and Na2S2O3 as starting materials might lead the way for the preparation of other inorganic nanomaterials having different properties and morphologies.