Synthesis of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by quaternary ammonium compounds

Abstract

The results of the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles stabilized with quaternary ammonium compounds are presented. It has been shown that the increase in the content of quaternary ammonium compounds in the solution during synthesis changes the mechanism of stabilization of selenium nanoparticles and affects the sign as well as the value of the colloidal particles charge. At low concentrations of the quaternary ammonium compounds, stabilization has occurred via electrostatic mechanism and has led to the formation of spherical particles with excess negative charge. At high concentrations of the quaternary ammonium compounds, stabilization has occurred via electrosteric mechanism and has afforded spherical particles with excess positive charge, the stabilizer layer thickness being of 10 to 40 nm depending on the quaternary ammonium compound nature.