Low-temperature solvothermal synthesis of EuS hollow microspheres

EuS crystals are synthesized by low-temperature solvothermal decomposition of the single source precursor complex (Phen)Eu(Et2CNS2)3 in acetonitrile. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, granulocyte diameter statistical analysis, surface energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy are used to characterize the structure and properties of the obtained EuS crystals. The results show that the formed EuS crystals are uniform hollow microspheres with a typical cubic phase structure of rock salt and the average particle size of 2.01 μm. The mechanisms for the thermal decomposition of the precursor complex and the formation of the EuS hollow microspheres are postulated based on the experimental observations and previous reports.