Lattice contraction and Surface stress investigation in nanoparticles of zinc sulfide

Nanostructured zinc sulfide was synthesized through controlled chemical precipitation method using zinc chloride and sodium sulfide as starting materials. Zinc sulfide nanoparticle with different average grain sizes were obtained by annealing the as prepared sample at different temperatures in inert atmosphere. The samples were characterized using XRD, TEM, and SAED. The lattice contraction, which have significant impact on the electrical and mechanical properties of nanomaterials were studied using Hall-Williamsons analysis. The lattice contraction present in nanoparticles of zinc sulfide with different average particle size at different planes was studied. The observed lattice contraction in nanoparticles of zinc sulfide seems to have contributions from micro strain over and above the contribution from quantum confinement effect due to small particle size and it follows an inverse proportional relationship with the particle size.The present paper discusses the reduced unit cell size in ZnS nanoparticles, along with their diminutive particle size, and its contribution to the broadening of X-ray diffraction peaks. •The current paper discusses about the lattice contraction in nanoparticles of zinc sulfide.•The surface stress and micro strain present in nanoparticles of ZnS with different average particle size also evaluated.•Influence of particle size on the above said parameters were discussed.