Formation and photocatalytic properties of Q-sized nanoparticles of various transition metal sulphides in the inner cavities of lecithin vesicles modified with sodium dodecylsulphate Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Modification of lecithin vesicles by the incorporation of the ionogenic surface-active compound sodium dodecylsulphate into the lipid membrane influences the growth of ultrafine (40 or less) semiconductor sulphide particles inside the cavities of the vesicles. Particles of CdS, CuSx, PbS and ZnS can be synthesized by encapsulating EDTA-metallocomplex precursors in the vesicle cavities and adding sulphide anions to the water phase outside the cavities. The optical spectra of CdS aggregates synthesized by this method differ significantly from those of CdS inside "unmodified" vesicles, and possess two distinct exciton maxima characteristic of cluster-like Q-sized sulphide nanoparticles of approximately 10 . The spectral shapes of these aggregates remain unchanged during growth; the sulphide nanoparticles formed exhibit a planar or "crumbly" structure, the particles being bound to both dodecylsulphate and EDTA anions. The concentration of dodecylsulphate in the membrane and the solution pH and temperature strongly affect the initial rate of CdS particle growth. The Q-sized CdS and CuSx particles in the inner cavities of the lipid vesicles appear to be photocatalytically active in a process of vectorial electron phototransfer through the lipid-water interface to cetylviologen incorporated into the membrane.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY

author list (cited authors)

  • Igumenova, T. I., Vasiltsova, O. V., & Parmon, V. N.

citation count

  • 13

complete list of authors

  • Igumenova, TI||Vasiltsova, OV||Parmon, VN

publication date

  • March 1996