Characterization of ordered 3D arrays of Ag2S nanocrystallites

Reverse micelles have been used to synthetize 5.6 nm silver sulfide particles. These nanoparticles are coated with dodecanethiol, extracted from reverse micelles and then dissolved in heptane. The extracting process induces a size selection with a decrease in the polydispersity from 30% to 14%. By leaving a drop of a solution on any support, or immerse the support in the solution, mono and multilayers made of nanosized particles are formed. The monolayer is arranged in a hexagonal network whereas the 3D multilayers are arranged in a face centered cubic structure. From T.E.M. (Transmission Electron Microscopy) and G.I.S.A.X.S (Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering) techniques morphological information is provided.