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Synthesis and optical properties of naturally occurring fluorescent mineral, ferroan sphalerite, inspired (Fe,Zn)S nanoparticles

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Abstract

Inspired by the naturally occurring fluorescent mineral, ferroan sphalerite, [(Fe,Zn)S] nanoparticles were synthesized by a three component reaction of [Fe(Mes)2]2 (Mes = mesityl or C6H2Me3-2,4,6), [Zn(Et)(ONep)(py)]2, and elemental S via both solution and solvothermal routes. The resultant nanoparticles are ≤3 nm and absorb at λmax = 281 nm emitting a bright blue color (λem ∼400 nm).

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Acknowledgement

Drs J. Oliver and B. Wilson (University of New Mexico) for helpful discussions. Support for this work was by: the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, Grant 1 R21 EB005365-01 where information on this RFA (Innovation in Molecular Imaging Probes) can be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-04-021.html; the Office of Basic Energy Sciences at the Department of Energy, and the United State Department of Energy. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

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  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Advanced Materials Laboratory, 1001 University Boulevard, SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA

    Timothy J. Boyle, Harry D. Pratt III, Bernadette A. Hernandez-Sanchez, Timothy N. Lambert & Thomas J. Headley

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  1. Timothy J. Boyle
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  2. Harry D. Pratt III
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  3. Bernadette A. Hernandez-Sanchez
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  4. Timothy N. Lambert
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  5. Thomas J. Headley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy J. Boyle.

Additional information

The synthesis of fluorescent ferroan sphalerite nanoparticles that emit at ∼400 nm was realized through solution and solvothermal routes.

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Boyle, T., Pratt, H., Hernandez-Sanchez, B. et al. Synthesis and optical properties of naturally occurring fluorescent mineral, ferroan sphalerite, inspired (Fe,Zn)S nanoparticles. J Mater Sci 42, 2792–2795 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1419-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1419-3

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