Publication Date

Summer 2020

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Lawrence Hill (Director), Bangbo Yan, Matthew Nee

Degree Program

Department of Chemistry

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Core/shell semiconductor nanoparticles are of great interest as photocatalysts due to their large surface area per volume and tunable band gaps. The synthesis of core/shell semiconductor nanoparticles has traditionally involved the use of binding ligands to ensure the particles do not aggregate. These binding ligands lower the surface area of the nanoparticles though, reducing their overall efficiency. Ionic liquids have been found to be capable of acting as both solvents and stabilizing agents for synthesis of catalysts with highly active surfaces. Our experiments focus on the synthesis of CdS/ZnS core/shell nanoparticles with the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate, [BMIM][MeSO4], acting as both solvent and stabilizing agent. During synthesis we attempt to control the size of the synthesized particles and optimize the purification process to remove nanoparticles from [BMIM][MeSO4].

Disciplines

Environmental Monitoring | Inorganic Chemistry | Other Environmental Sciences | Physical Chemistry

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