ZINC COLLOIDS AND FILMS FROM NON-AQUEOUS SOLVENTS .7.

Zinc colloids and zinc metal films have been prepared by Chemical Liquid Deposition (CLD) from non-aqueous solvents. The goal is the synthesis of new colloids from another approach in order to obtain zinc colloids and from them reactive solids for organic reductions. The zinc is evaporated to yield atoms which are solvated at low temperature (77 degrees K) and during the warm up colloidal sets are obtained. The characterization of these colloids was achieved by several studies such as stability, electrophoresis, flocculation speed, and transmission electron microscopy. organic solvents such as acetone, 2-butanone, isobutyl methyl ketone, tetrahydrofurane, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, ethanol, 2-propanol, benzene and toluene, were used. These studies are showing that zinc colloids are very reactive in the presence of oxygen. Their particles are spherical and negatively charged. Upon solvent removal these colloidal particles grow to form metallic films, which contain some residual solvent. Characterization of these films by FTIR, thermogravimetry (TG) and electron microscopy have been carried out. These studies are showing that the solvents are incorporated into the films. TG studies reveal that the loss of fragments occurs after 300 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy gives us their surface morphology. The films are showing a metal composition ranging from 65.0 to 80% w/w and the carbon content is very low (around 1% w/w). The films are extremely reactive in the presence of oxygen.