2D nanocrystal arrays of iron pyrite (FeS2) were fabricated on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) to investigate the potential of homogeneous epitaxial growth of pyrite by atmospheric-pressure chemical vapor deposition (AP-CVD). The nanocrystal arrays were fabricated by sulfurization of linearly ordered iron oxide nanoparticles in atmospheres of H2S or elemental sulfur. Sulfurization using H2S showed the coalescence of iron oxide nanoparticles to form FeS2 nanowires; however, they were found to be multi phase FeS2 (pyrite and marcasite). Elemental sulfur annealing showed the conversion to pure pyrite phase; however, the nanowire morphology was lost to clustering of the grains. AP-CVD on different sulfur treated samples showed different growth: H2S-treated samples showed seed-mediated growth on only nanowires, while sulfur-treated samples showed no preferential growth on pre-decorated nucleation sites. This research shows that AP-CVD on pre-deposited nucleation sites is a promising method to study the early stages of pyrite nanocrystal growth.

Nucleation growth of pyrite nanocrystal arrays by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.