PREPARATION OF HGS IN LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS OF MERCURY(II) ARACHIDATE AND MERCURY(II) BEHENATE

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of mercury(II) arachidate (HgAr) and merc ury(II) behenate (HgBe) were deposited on hydrophobed quartz and mica using air-water monolayers of the respective fatty acids spread on sub phases containing Hg(OOCCH3)(2). The reactions of HgAr and HgBe films with H2S were investigated using ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spe ctroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy ( AFM), and quartz crystal microbalance techniques. It was concluded tha t HgS forms quantitatively in the LB films. Additional HES can be intr oduced into the film after gassing by immersion of the films in a Hg2 solution and regassing with H2S. Absorbance data do not provide infor mation as to the nature and size of the HgS aggregates in the him. AFM measurements, however, indicate that individual particles are formed in the size range 2-10nm. Agglomerates of individual particles were al so observed.