Facile preparation of rare-earth semiconductor nanocrystals and tuning of their dimensionalities

EuS and Gd2O2S nanocrystals with narrow size distribution are synthesized in high yields by the thermal decomposition of Eu(oleate)3 or Gd(oleate)3 in oleylamine using CS2 as the sulfur source. The dimensionalities of these nanocrystals can be facilely tuned by the addition of 1-dodecanethiol. The morphologies and crystal structures of EuS and Gd2O2S nanocrystals are characterized by TEM and XRD. The magnetic properties of the obtained nanocrystals are also investigated. The experimental results illustrate that CS2 is an effective sulfur source for the preparation of metal sulfide and lanthanide oxysulfide semiconductor nanocrystals.