Nickel and Iron Sulfide Nanoparticles from Thiobiurets

The nickel(II) and iron(III) complexes of 1,1,5,5-tetra-iso-propyl-2-thiobiuret were used as single-source precursors for the synthesis of nickel and iron sulfide nanoparticles, respectively, by thermolysis in hot oleylamine, octadecene, or dodecanethiol. Several combinations of different injection solvents and capping agents were used in the reaction mixture. The shape and the phase of the material were controlled by changing the injection solvent, capping agent, growth temperature, or precursor concentration. The thermolysis of the nickel precursor gave Ni 3 S 4 in all cases except when precursor solution in oleylamine was injected into hot octadecene which produced NiS nanoparticles. Ni 3 S 4 was obtained in different morphologies (wires, rods, spheres, and triangles) depending upon the reaction conditions, whereas NiS was obtained as wires only. The thermolysis of the iron complex in oleylamine/oleylamine produced Fe 7 S 8 nanoparticles with different morphologies (spherical, rods, or plates), again depending on the growth temperature and precursor concentration. Combinations of different injection solvents and capping agents produced, in most cases, amorphous material.