Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 February 2018
In order to improve the optical properties and enhance the stability of Zn1–x Cdx S nanoparticles, which are important optoelectrical materials, the ternary Zn1–x CdxS nanoparticles were enclosed in a layered octosilicate by a three-step process, namely (i) protonation of Naoctosilicate, (ii) ion-exchange in order to introduce Zn and Cd ions into the interlayer space, and (iii) addition of S2– to form Zn1–x Cdx S particles in the interlayer space of the octosilicate. The basal spacing (~10 Å) of the final ZnCdS-Oct-n (n = 1, 2, 3, 4) composites noticeably increased in comparison with that of the precursor H-Oct (7.5 Å). This may be attributed to the incorporation of larger size Zn1–x Cdx S particles into the interlayer space of H-Oct. The UV-visible spectra of the composites suggested that the transmission band-edges gradually shifted to low energy with increasing molar ratio of Cd/Zn. Moreover, the transmission band-edges of the composites are between those of layered Octosilicate, ZnS, and CdS. TEM observation confirmed that the size of Zn1–x Cdx S nanoparticles enclosed in the layered silicate was about ~3–5 nm.