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Novel approach for electrochemical preparation of sulfur nanoparticles

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Abstract

An electrochemical method is presented for the preparation of sulfur nanoparticles (S-NPs) from thiosulfate ion. The particle size of the S-NPs can be adjusted between 35 and 65 nm by varying parameters such as the initial concentration of thiosulfate. The solvent/non-solvent precipitation method was also applied to the preparation of S-NPs for comparison. In this case, the use of hot alcohol and cold water as solvent/non-solvent system along with 100 ml·min−1 flow rate for co-mixing of non-solvent resulted in the formation of S-NPs in a typical size of 250 nm that are fairly homogeneous in shape and have a narrow particle size distribution. The results revealed that, in comparison to the precipitation process, the electro-synthetic method offers simplicity, higher efficiency, improved size control, and less environmental contamination.

Sulfur nanoparticles were prepared via electrochemical synthesis. Particle size of product was tuned by adjusting initial concentration of sodium thiosulfate in electrolyte solution. Meanwhile, the solvent/non-solvent procedure was also used to micronization of sulfur. Under optimum conditions, particles in submicron sized, homogeneous in shape with a narrow particle size distribution were formed.

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Acknowledgement

The support of this work by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran, 6714967346

    Mojtaba Shamsipur, Seied Mahdi Pourmortazavi & Mahmoud Roushani

  2. Faculty of Material and Manufacturing Technologies, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, P.O.Box 16765-3454, Tehran, Iran

    Iraj Kohsari & Seiedeh Somayyeh Hajimirsadeghi

Authors
  1. Mojtaba Shamsipur
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  2. Seied Mahdi Pourmortazavi
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  3. Mahmoud Roushani
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  4. Iraj Kohsari
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  5. Seiedeh Somayyeh Hajimirsadeghi
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Correspondence to Mojtaba Shamsipur.

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Shamsipur, M., Pourmortazavi, S.M., Roushani, M. et al. Novel approach for electrochemical preparation of sulfur nanoparticles. Microchim Acta 173, 445–451 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-011-0581-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-011-0581-8

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