Microwave synthesis of nanocrystalline Sb2S3 and its electrochemical properties

Nanocrystalline antimony trisulfide (Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3}) was successfully synthesized via microwave irradiation by the reaction of antimony trichloride (SbCl{sub 3}) and thiourea (CS(NH{sub 2}){sub 2}) with PVP as the surfactant. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM). XRD results show that the as-prepared sample is orthorhombic-phase Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3}. TEM image of the as-prepared Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} shows the rod-like structure. HRTEM image indicates that rodbundles of Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} consists of a number nanorods with the diameter ranging from 30 nm to 50 nm. Detailed HRTEM image demonstrates the preferential direction growth of the Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} nanorods. The electrochemical properties of Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} were primarily investigated by constant current charge/discharge cycling tests in lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF{sub 6}) solution. The possible electrochemical reaction mechanism was explained. The results indicate that the nanocrystalline Sb{sub 2}S{sub 3} shows potential application in the field of the electrode materials.