Mechanosynthesis of Sulfur-Containing Silver Halide Nanocomposites in a Dimethyl Sulfoxide Medium

Transformations in the S-AgNO3-NH4X-NH4NO3 (X = Cl, Br, I) system show that nanoparticles and nanocomposites with a controlled size of particles and content of components can be synthesized via mechanical treatment and adding small amounts of a liquid in which the precursors are soluble. Nanoparticles form in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium through conventional (continuous dissolution-crystallization) or reactive means (continuous dissolution of precursors and their reacting with subsequent crystallization of the target product), rather than by direct mechanical activation. The first version is used for synthesizing sulfur nanoparticles (nanosulfur); the second, for synthesizing silver halides. Sulfur-containing S/AgX nanocomposites with a controlled content of sulfur are synthesized mechanochemically. A predetermined content of nanosulfur in the nanocomposites is obtained via the dissolution-crystallization (recrystallization) of sulfur in DMSO inside a mechanochemical reactor. The proposed technical solution allows the synthesis of S/AgX nanocomposites through processing AgNO3, NH4X, and NH4NO3 (diluent) precursors, commercial sulfur, and small amounts of DMSO in planetary ball mills with different fittings. The water-soluble components of the product of mechanosynthesis are readily washed off.