Synthesis and photoluminescence of zinc sulfide nanowires by simple thermal chemical vapor deposition

We present a synthetic method of zinc sulfide nanowires by a simple and safe reaction of zinc oxide and iron sulfide powders on a gold-coated silicon substrate through chemical vapor transport and condensation. High quality ZnS nanowires with single crystalline wurtzite structures are grown along [0 0 1] direction with diameters in the range of 10–30 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers. Photoluminescence spectrum shows strong emission near 339 nm. These nanowires with cleaved ends could be a prominent candidate material for a nanoscale cavity as a ultra-violet nanolaser.