Studies on the Formation of CdS Nanoparticles from Solutions of (NMe4)4[Cd10S4(SPh)16]

The stepwise cluster growth, and formation of CdS nanopartides from solutions of (NMe4)(4)[Cd10S4(SPh)(16)] in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetonitrile was investigated. Cluster growth is fast in DMSO and DMF at room temperature, and slow in acetonitrile at elevated temperatures. Larger sulfide clusters (initially Cd-32, then Cd-54) are initially formed, which upon further growth eventually give rise to CdS nanoparticles. Strong evidence was found that the byproduct formed during the reaction in DMSO is mononuclear [Cd(SPh)(x)(DMSO)(y)]((2-x)) (x approximate to 3).