Synthesis of MS/TiO2 (M = Pb, Zn, Cd) nanocomposites through a mild sol–gel process

Abstract

In a sol–gel process, metal acetates reacted with thioacetamide to form the corresponding metal sulfides homogeneously dispersed in a colloid. The as-prepared dry gels were decomposed by heat treatment at 120 °C to form MS/TiO₂ (M = Pb, Zn, Cd) nanocomposites. The products were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, elemental analysis, UV-Vis absorption, and photoluminescence. The final nanocomposites consisted of amorphous titanium dioxide nanoparticles and nanocrystalline metal sulfides. Nanocrystalline PbS in the gel had fine optical properties and showed obvious quantum confinement effects.