Electrically activated chemical bath deposition of CdS on carbon nanotube arrays

Electrically stimulated depositions of CdS nanoparticles on the surface of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays were investigated by applying a voltage of 3 V to the electrodes placed into a chemical bath with an aqueous ammonium solution of CdCl2 and thiourea. The CNT arrays were fixed on positive, negative, and neutral electrodes. Morphology, composition and structure of CdS-CNT hybrids were studied using scanning electron microscopy, Raman scattering and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. CdS nanocrystallites in the hybrids were found to exhibit synthesis-dependent luminescence properties. S-vacancy enriched CdS grown on the positively charged CNT array possessed red photoluminescence (PL). Purple emission was attributed to small-size CdS nanocrystals synthesized on the negatively charged CNTs. The CNT array located on a neutral electrode was uniformly covered by CdS nanoparticles with a highly intense blue PL. Our results indicate a promising effect of the electrical field for enhancement of the growth rate of CdS nanocrystals. •Electrical field activates chemical bath deposition of CdS on carbon nanotube arrays.•Red photoluminescence from S vacancies in CdS formed on positively charged nanotubes.•Small-size CdS nanocrystals synthesize on negatively charged nanotubes.