Solution-Based Synthesis of Group 4 Chalcogenide Nanoparticles

The synthesis of compound chalcogenide nanoparticles – containing sulfur, selenium, or tellurium as the anion – is a robust research field. Many solution-based synthesis routes are well established for transition metal chalcogenide compounds for a number of binary and multinary materials. However, one area in which research is lacking is the solution-based synthesis of group 4 (Zr, Hf, Ti) chalcogenide materials. One challenge in particular is a high affinity for oxidation for these group 4 elements. Many possible synthesis routes are available for these materials, including hot injection and thermal decomposition. Of the group 4 chalcogenides, zirconium sulfide (ZrS2) is of particular interest due to its semiconducting properties. To further study this material, we have conducted various solution-based syntheses. In this work we report an overview of the synthetic routes for ZrS₂ synthesis from several techniques, and the challenges faced by these methods. Throughout these experiments we have noticed a trend where zirconium oxide (ZrO2) forms much more favorably than ZrS2. We also propose future work that could resolve these issues.