Optoelectronic behavior of ZnS compound and its alloy: A first principle approach

First principles calculations were employed to study the structural, electronic and optical properties of pristine ZnS and its alloy compounds; Zn0.75Cr0.25S, Zn0.75Ti0.25S & Zn0.50Cr0.25Ti0.25S. To investigate these, full potential linear augmented plane wave (FPLAPW) based on density functional theory (DFT) was adopted as implement in WIEN2K code by employing generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of the revised Perdew-Burke Erzenhoff (PBE) as exchange correlation function. Lattice constant, volume, bulk modulus and other physical parameters were calculated for structural properties. Variation in these parameters in crystal structure is related to difference in ionic radius of host and replaced atom. The results of band structure and density of states were determined for electronic properties. The pristine ZnS and Zn0.75Ti0.25S compounds are semiconductor in nature while Zn0.75Cr0.25S and Zn0.50Cr0.25Ti0.25S displayed metallic character. Optical parameters including absorption coefficient, energy loss function, complex refractive index; refractive index and extinction coefficient, and optical conductivity have been computed from the dielectric function at energy range of 0–25 eV. Static dielectric constant for ε1(ω) are found to be 6.61, 1811.89, 155.46 and 1446.14 in ZnS, Zn0.75Cr0.25S, Zn0.75Ti0.25S and Zn0.50Cr0.25Ti0.25S respectively. The mean peaks of absorption are found at energy range of ∼5–10.5 eV for all studied compounds. We obtained noble performance of optical conductivity of doped at 0–7 eV which is due to presence of 3d – orbitals in the doped compounds. Our results are compared with available theoretical calculations and the experimental data.