Nanoparticles of ZnO/ZnS: Electrochemical Synthesis, Analysis and Prospective Applications

This article presents a detailed study on the electrochemical synthesis, analysis, and potential applications of nanoparticles composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc sulfide (ZnS); the electrochemical method of obtaining ZnO/ZnS nanoparticles from a solution using two-electrode synthesis and zinc anodization is described. Sodium chloride and thiourea were used as the electrolyte; the concentration ranges of sulfur-containing substance was investigated, under which only zinc sulfide can be obtained. The influence of thiourea concentration on the particle thickness and composition of the electrolysis products in an aqueous solution of sodium chloride with a soluble zinc anode was studied for the first time. X-ray diffraction was employed to analyze the structural properties and thickness of the nanoparticles. The products of zinc anodization are nanoscale zinc oxide and zinc sulfide. With an increase in the thiourea content, the thickness of the formed particles decreases. It was found that at the lowest thiourea concentrations, mainly zinc oxide is formed, while at the highest concentrations, mainly zinc sulfide is formed. Increasing the concentration of thiourea is accompanied by the transformation of the wurzite modification of ZnO into sphalerite and the substitution of oxygen atoms with sulfur atoms. ZnS particles (1.3-3.6 nm) are significantly thinner than ZnO particles (7-29 nm). The synthesized nanoscale powders of zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, and their mixtures can be used for the production of semiconductor devices. The article discusses the potential applications of these nanoparticles in various fields such as photocatalysis, sensors, and energy storage devices. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of ZnO/ZnS nanoparticles, highlighting their promising prospects in nanotechnology.