Template-free solution approach to synthesize CdS dendrites with SCN based ionic liquid

Cadmium sulfide dendrites were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal treatment from CdCl2 and ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methlyimidazole thiocyanate acted both as sulfur source and surfactant. The product was characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray powder diffraction studies indicated that the product was well-crystallized hexagonal phase of CdS, and the scanning electron microscopy images showed that the obtained powders consisted of a wealth of well-defined CdS dendritic microstructures with a pronounced trunk and highly ordered branches. The UV–Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements were taken as well. The possible formation mechanism of CdS dendrites was simply proposed in the end.

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► Template-free solution approach to synthesize CdS hierarchical dendrites.
► The 1-butyl-3-methlyimidazole thiocyanate ([BMIM][SCN]) plays doubly functional roles in the progress.
► The CdS hierarchical dendrites exhibit a more intense emission at 710 nm belongs to infrared band.