Synthesis of Mixed-Valent Lanthanide Sulfide Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT

In targeting reduced valent lanthanide chalcogenides, we report the first nanoparticle synthesis of the mixed-valent ferromagnets Eu3 S4 and EuSm2 S4 . Using divalent lanthanide halides with bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfide and oleylamine, we prepared nanoparticles of EuS, Eu3 S4 , EuSm2 S4 , SmS1.9 , and Sm3 S4 . All nanoparticle phases were identified using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm morphology and nanoparticle size, and magnetic susceptibility measurements for determining the ordering temperatures and valence. The UV/Vis, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies for each phase were compared. Surprisingly, the phase is influenced by the halide and the reaction temperature, where EuCl2 formed EuS while EuI2 formed Eu3 S4 , highlighting the role of kinetics in phase stabilization. Interestingly, at lower temperatures EuI2 initially forms EuS, and converts over time to Eu3 S4 .