Solvothermal synthesis of novel flower-like manganese sulfide particles

Novel flower-like alpha-manganese sulfide (MnS) particles are solvothermally synthesized via a precipitation reaction of manganese dichloride (MnCl2) and thiourea (Tu) in ethylene glycol (Eg) solvent at 180 degrees C for 24 h. The as-prepared products are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influences of experimental parameters, including reaction temperatures and time, molar ratio R of MnCl2 to Tu, and solvents on the morphologies of the products were investigated. It was found that appropriate experimental conditions were crucial for the formation of unusual flower-shaped alpha-MnS particles. Various crystal morphologies, such as flowers, spheres, and polyhedrons could be fabricated by changing the experimental conditions. A possible formation mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of novel flower-like alpha-MnS particles. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.