ZnSxSe1−x nanowire arrays with tunable optical properties grown on ZnS nanoribbon substrates

Heteroepitaxial growth of single-crystalline ZnSxSe1−x nanowire arrays on ZnS nanoribbon substrates by the metal-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth method is reported in this work. ZnSxSe1−x nanowire arrays were grown, crosswise aligned on the top surface and vertically aligned on the side surfaces of the ZnS nanoribbon substrates, with variable composition and tunable optical properties. Room-temperature lasings of the nanowires with different compositions of x∼0.85, 0.76 and 0.45, showing lasing modes due to the formation of optical waveguides and resonance cavities, were located at ∼367, 378 and 421 nm, respectively. Low-temperature photoluminescence measurements were also carried out to study the optical properties of the heteroepitaxial nanostructures. The present work provides a new approach, which can lead to the rational design of building blocks for the construction of nano-devices.