Method of synthesizing pyrite nanocrystals
View Patent ↗A method of synthesizing pyrite nanocrystals is disclosed which in one embodiment includes forming a solution of iron (III) diethyl dithiophosphate and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide in water. The solution is heated under pressure. Pyrite nanocrystal particles are then recovered from the solution.
1. A method of synthesizing pyrite nanocrystals comprising:
forming a solution of a molecular precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide in water;
heating the solution under pressure; and
recovering pyrite nanocrystal particles from the solution.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide is alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein an alkyl group of the alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide is ethyl.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein an alkyl group of the alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide is hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein a halide group of the hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide is selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, and iodide.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the molecular precursor is selected from a group consisting of iron (III) diethyl dithiophosphate, a radical thereof, and a combination of both the iron (III) diethyl dithiophosphate and the radical thereof.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising forming the molecular precursor in a reaction between iron (III) chloride and diethyl dithiophosphate ammonium salt.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein forming the molecular precursor comprises:
forming a precursor solution of the iron (III) chloride and the diethyl dithiophosphate ammonium salt; and
drying the solution.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein forming the solution comprises adding the molecular precursor and the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide to the water.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein forming the solution comprises:
forming an aqueous precursor solution of the iron (III) chloride and the diethyl dithiophosphate which react to produce the iron (III) diethyl dithiophosphate; and
adding the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide to the aqueous precursor solution.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein forming the solution comprises:
forming a precursor solution of the molecular precursor in the water;
forming a tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solution of the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide and the water; and
mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising agitating the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solution prior to mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising agitating the solution while mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising sonicating the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solution prior to mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising sonicating the solution while mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein heating the solution comprises heating the solution to a temperature above 150° C.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein heating the solution comprises heating the solution to a temperature of at least about 180° C.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein heating the solution comprises heating the solution to a temperature of at least about 200° C.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure during heating the solution reaches at least about 150 psi.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure during heating the solution reaches at least about 165 psi.
21. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure during heating the solution reaches at least about 180 psi.
22. The method of claim 1 wherein a ph of the solution is within the range of 3 and above.
23. The method of claim 1 wherein forming the solution further comprises adding an amine to the solution.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the amine is olyelamine.
25. The method of claim 2 wherein an alkyl group of the alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide is a carbon chain alkyl that is longer than ethyl.
26. The method of claim 2 wherein an alkyl group of the alkyl-trimethyl-ammonium halide is a carbon chain alkyl that is longer than hexadecyl-trimethyl-ammonium.
27. The method of claim 7 wherein forming the solution comprises:
forming an aqueous precursor solution of the iron (III) chloride and the diethyl dithiophosphate which react to produce the radical thereof; and
adding the tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide to the aqueous precursor solution.
28. The method of claim 12 further comprising agitating the solution after mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.
29. The method of claim 14 further comprising sonicating the solution after mixing the precursor and tetra-alkyl-ammonium halide solutions.