Low Molecular Weight Organogels and Their Application in the Synthesis of CdS Nanoparticles

Abstract

Two new fatty acid based derivatives containing carboxylate and amide functions with different alkyl chain lengths were synthesized, and their properties as low molecular weight (LMW) gelators for organic solvents such as nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, and dioxane are evaluated. The xerogels under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) show self-assembled fibrillar and flowerlike structures. Rheological properties of the gelator forming an extended fibrillar network were studied to verify the solidlike behavior of the gel. The role of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the formation of the supramolecular structures was confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy. The nitrobenzene based organogel superstructure was used as a template for synthesis of CdS nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were characterized through UV–vis spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).