PREPARATION OF HGS IN LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS OF MERCURY(II) ARACHIDATE AND MERCURY(II) BEHENATE

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of mercury(II) arachidate (HgAr) and mercury(II) behenate (HgBe) were deposited on hydrophobed quartz and mica using air-water monolayers of the respective fatty acids spread on subphases containing Hg(OOCCH3)(2). The reactions of HgAr and HgBe films with H2S were investigated using ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and quartz crystal microbalance techniques. It was concluded that HgS forms quantitatively in the LB films. Additional HES can be introduced into the film after gassing by immersion of the films in a Hg2+ solution and regassing with H2S. Absorbance data do not provide information as to the nature and size of the HgS aggregates in the him. AFM measurements, however, indicate that individual particles are formed in the size range 2-10nm. Agglomerates of individual particles were also observed.