Early Stages of ZnS Growth Studied by Stopped-Flow UV Absorption Spectroscopy:  Effects of Educt Concentrations on the Nanoparticle Formation

The growth of ZnS nanoparticles by precipitation from supersaturated aqueous solution is studied by stopped-flow UV absorption spectroscopy. The average size, size distribution, and concentration of the particles are monitored within the sub-second time regime with a resolution of 1.28 ms. Particle growth at these early stages is governed by pronounced ripening. The UV absorption data strongly suggest that growth occurs by preferential adsorption of HS- anions relative to Zn2+ or ZnOH+ cations. Correspondingly, the initial sulfide concentration has a much more pronounced influence on the growth kinetics than the initial zinc concentration. These findings are verified by ζ-potential measurements which confirm that the particle surfaces are negatively charged under near-neutral pH conditions.