Synthesis of ZnS ultrathin nanowires and photoluminescence with Mn2+ doping

• ZnS:Mn2+ ultrathin nanowires with a diameter of ~2.0 nm were synthesized.
• The luminescences of ZnS:Mn2+ ultrathin nanowires were investigated.
• ZnS:Mn2+ (2 mol%) ultrathin nanowires emitted intense orange luminescence.
• Inorganic-polymeric hybrid materials were fabricated with the ZnS:Mn2+ nanowires.

We report on the synthesis of wurtzite ZnS and ZnS:Mn2+ ultrathin nanowires via a facile solvothermal process. The diameter of as-prepared nanowires was approximately 2 nm, which was below the exciton Bohr radius of ZnS. The intrinsic crystallography of ZnS nanowires was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The optical properties of the prepared nanowires were investigated by UV–visible and photoluminescence spectra. The obtained ZnS nanowires showed an orange emission at 575 nm after the doping with 1 mol%, 2 mol% and 5 mol% Mn2+ ions. The ZnS nanowires with 2 mol% Mn2+ produced the strongest emission with a quantum yield of 11.4%. Furthermore, the luminescent ZnS:Mn2+ nanowires were used to prepare an inorganic-polymeric hybrid material with the copolymer of polystyrene and poly(methylmethacrylate).