Synthesis of cadmium sulfide using the laser-induced reaction of

Abstract

Cadmium sulfide is formed successfully from the laser-induced chemical reion between a first reactant of a dialkylcadmium and a second reactant of a dialkylsulfide. Infrared laser radiation in the range of 10.4 or 9.4 micrometers is provided by a continuous-wave CO.sub.2 laser. In single line operation, output powers between 10 and 150 watts/centimeters square (W/cm.sup.2) are obtained by variation of the CO.sub.2 -N.sub.2 -He gas mixture in the laser. The process procedure and sample handling is accomplished using standard vacuum line techniques. The irradiation of dimethylsulfide at R(18) of (00.degree.1-10.degree.0) for 5 seconds at 100 W/cm.sup.2 produced the products methane, ethane, and sulfur. A mixture of a dialkylsulfide (CH.sub.3).sub.2 S, and a dialkylcadmium (CH.sub.3).sub.2 Cd is irradiated at R(18) of (00.degree.1-10.degree.0), 979 cm.sup.-1 for a total of 5 seconds at 100 W/cm.sup.2 to form CdS on the windows of the reaction cell. A higher yield of CdS is obtained when the sensitizer SR.sub.6 is added to the mixture of the reactants. Excitation of the mixture occurs using P(20) of (00.degree.1-10.degree. 0) at 944 cm.sup.-1 for 5 seconds at 100 W/cm.sup.2. The representative torr pressures of the reactants are for (CH.sub.3).sub.2 Cd 33 torr combined with (CH.sub.3).sub.2 S to total 100 torr pressure prior to irradiation. The efficiency when SF.sub.6 (6 torr) plus (CH.sub.3).sub.2 Cd (22.4 torr) is combined with 54.5 torr of (CH.sub.3).sub.2 S and irradiated is improved.