A New Simple Route to ZnS Quantized Particles with Tunable Size and Shape, and Size/Shape-Dependent Optical Properties

With the features of convenience and eco-friendly, the low-temperature solid-state reaction synthesis was successfully developed as a new approach to prepare quantum-sized ZnS nanocrystals. One major achievement is that the size and shape of ZnS nanocrystals can be tuned by adjusting the surfactant and its feed. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of quasispherical and one-dimensional quantum-sized ZnS nanocrystals all showed a blue-shift from the bulk counterpart, indicating large quantum confinement effects of ZnS nanocrystals. These ZnS nanocrystals all showed well-defined excitonic emission features. Contrastive studies on photoluminescence performances indicated that the bandedge emission experienced only the size-dependent quantum confinement effect, while the trap-state emission experienced the size- and shape-dependences. So we can design a purposeful synthesis route to ZnS nanocrystals with target luminescence emission performances.