Synthesis and characterization of a novel hollow nanoparticle-based SnS crystal product with microcluster-like 3D network hierarchitectures

SnS is an important semiconductor and its performance depends greatly on its morphology and 3D architecture. So the synthesis for it with specific structures has been widely paid attention. Herein, a novel hollow nanoparticle-based SnS crystal product with microcluster-like 3D network hierarchitectures was developed, via a template-assisted solvothermal route in diethylene glycol (DEG) solvent, followed by annealing in N-2 atmosphere and subsequent corrosion of template by dilute acid. CaCO3 nanoparticles were used as the template, SnCl2 as the tin source, thiourea and L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate (Cys) as two different sulfur sources for a comparison study. Results show that successful fabrication of the hollow-structured SnS product mentioned above was achieved only in the case of using Cys as the sulfur source, mainly due to much stronger adhesion of Cys on CaCO3 template and microcluster-like stacking patterns of CaCO3 nanoparticles in DEG solvent. This novel 3D hierarchical SnS product owns 1-5 times higher specific surface area, unique hollow nanostructure units with rich mesopores inside the shells, and scattering-enhanced absorption in UV-vis light region, as against those previously reported micro-scale tin sulfide 3D hierarchitectures assembled by nanopetals, nanosheets, nanorods, nanobelts, etc. So it should have much more extensive and promising applications. (C) 2015 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.