Solvothermal synthesis of ZnS[C(2)H(4)(NH(2))(2)](0.5) nanosheets

ZnS(en)(0.5) complex (en=ethylenediamine) can be synthesized by solvothermal route as thin sheet-like crystals using en as the single solvent. We studied the influence of the main synthesis parameters (i.e. temperature, pressure, time, reactant type and concentration) on the compound crystallization kinetics to achieve control on shape and dimensions of the ZnS(en)(0.5) nanoplatelets. We achieved a significant reduction of the platelet dimensions, while maintaining acceptable yield, by using a single piece of metal zinc as the Zn(2+) source.