Using aqueous foam films as template for the synthesis of zinc sulfide nanoparticles

A simple and convenient method for the synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles using liquid foams as template is demonstrated in the paper. Two types of foam formed in a specially designed apparatus from aqueous solution of surfactant, respectively, containing C4H6O4Zn and Na2S contact each other after foam films drain completely and reach nanometer thickness, S2− and Zn2+ ions entrapped by the surfactant layers at the thin borders between the foam bubbles react resulting in the formation of ZnS nanoparticles. Attempts have also been made to control the size of ZnS nanoparticles via changing experimental conditions such as surfactant types, the solution concentration, etc. The effect of experimental parameters on the ZnS nanoparticles growth was studied in detail to investigate the mechanism leading to the synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles.