Transformation of a zinc inclusion complex to wurtzite ZnS microflowers under solvothermal conditions

Wurtzite zinc sulfide (ZnS) microflowers were synthesized successfully by a convenient solvothermal route in ethylene glycol (EG) and ethylenediamine (EN) using thiourea and zinc inclusion complex as starting materials. The inclusion complex {[Zn(bipy)2(H2O)2](4‐Cl‐3‐NH2‐C6H3SO3)2(bipy) (H2O)2}n was achieved by the reaction of zinc oxide (ZnO) and 4‐Cl‐3‐NH2‐C6H3SO3 with the bridging ligand bipy under moderate conditions, in which bipy is 4,4′‐bipyridine and 4‐Cl‐3‐NH2C6H3SO3NH is 4‐Chloro‐3‐aminobenzene sulfonic acid. The phase purity of bulk products was confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction and element analysis. The factors that might affect the purity of the ZnS product during the synthesis were discussed in detail. It was found that the products were significantly affected by the mixed solvents and the starting materials. X‐ray single crystal diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the products. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)