Naslov
Voltammetry of copper sulfide particles and nanoparticles ; Investigation of the cluster hypothesis

Autori
Ciglenečki, Irena ; Krznarić, Damir ; Helz, George, R.

Izvornik
Environmental science & technology (0013-936X) 39(19) (2005); 7492-7498

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Voltammetry; Copper sulfide; Nanoparticles; Particles

Sažetak
An association of Cu with sulfide in aerobic natural waters has been attributed to these components’ coexistence in clusters having sizes intermediate between mononuclear complexes and colloidal particles. This hypothesis is investigated here. Copper sulfide solid phases display size-related voltammetric behavior at Hg electrodes. Suspensions of copper sulfide powders held at accumulation potentials of 0 to – 0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) produce voltammetric peaks near – 0.15 V, – 0.65 V and – 0.95 V during subsequent cathodic scans. The first two peaks arise from electrochemically generated Cu-oxyhydroxides and HgS ; the – 0.95 V peak arises from reduction of sorbed copper sulfide particles. Nanoparticles of radius ~10-8 m produce the third peak even without stirring or accumulation. Still smaller analytes give only the first two peaks. Published evidence alleging production of sub-nanometer copper sulfide clusters during titrations of Cu2+ and HS- was not reproduced when sulfide oxidation was avoided. Instead, such titrations apparently generate nanoparticles. The titration stoichiometry is 1/1, consistent with previous descriptions of this process: Cu2++HS-→ &frac12 ; ; Cu2S.S0 (brown sol) → CuS(green sol). Titrating Cu2+ into organic-rich (muscilaginous) Adriatic Sea water, which contains 10-7 M natural thiols and sulfide, produces solid products. In the future, voltammetry might prove useful for studying semiconductor sulfide nanoparticles in nature.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija, Kemija

POVEZANOST RADA