Novel rosette-shaped CdS microparticle with high surface area fabricated by lyotropic liquid crystal templating

Semiconductor CdS microparticle covered with wrinkle-like nanotexture was prepared under ambient condition by using the lyotropic liquid crystal mesophase as a structural template. The prepared CdS microparticle resembles a rosette shape with a diameter of 0.5–1.5 μm and the wrinkle-like nanotexture on its surface. This rosette-shaped CdS consists of small nanocrystals with a diameter of ∼4 nm, and the nanocrystal building block has the zinc-blende crystal structure. The characteristic band-to-band absorption and near band-edge emission are observed in this unique semiconductor particle. Nitrogen gas physisorption measurement reveals that the material has the high BET surface area of 38 m2 g−1 and nanoporous nature.