Effect of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as surfactant on cerium doped ZnS nanoparticles

Cerium-doped nanoparticles capped with different levels of poly ethylene glycol (PEG) have been synthesized in aqueous solution by a simple chemical precipitation method. The synthesized particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis absorption and room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The morphology of the products was studied by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The functional groups of the synthesized particles were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Photoluminescence studies for the entire investigated samples displayed two emission bands one at UV region and the other at visible region. In addition, XRD and high resolution transmission electron microscope studies showed the formation of cubic ZnS:Ce3+ nanoparticles with an average crystal size of 2.8 nm on 2.5% of PEG capping.