Microwave-Assisted Synthesis and the Surface Modification of 1-D Dimensional ZnS:Mn Nanocrystals for Polymer Applications

In recently years one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures (wires, rods, tubes) have received much attention because two-dimensional quantum confinement effect and their potential application in optoelectronics devices, such as photovoltaic solar cells or light emitting diodes. In this context one of the most important is zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanocrystal materials. ZnS is a large band gap II-VI group compound, which has two structural polymorphs—cubic zinc blende (3.72 eV) or hexagonal wurtzite (3.77 eV). Typically one-dimensional structures are characterized by wurtzite structure. ZnS has been targeted as an efficient semiconductor host to dope different transition metal ions such as Mn or Cu. ZnS:Mn is a luminescent material well known for its photoluminescence, electroluminescence and cathodoluminescence. In this article we present the microwave solvothermal synthesis of 1D nanocrystalline and the surface modification of  ZnS:Mn particles for polymer application. The preparation of 1D ZnS nanostructures generally requires high temperature, pressures and long time of synthesis. The effect of different parameters such as time, temperature, solvents, molar ratio of zinc and thiourea on the phase(s) formation of ZnS nanocrystals was investigated. The obtained ZnS nanoparticles materials were characterized by the X-ray diffraction, optical absorption measurements, SEM and photoluminescence studies.