A precursor nanowire templated route to CdS nanowires

We report the synthesis of the Cd-cysteine precursor nanowires using CdCl2·2.5H2O, L-cysteine and ethanolamine in the solvent of water at room temperature. The average diameter and lengths of Cd-cysteine precursor nanowires are 200 nm and several hundred microns, respectively. The precursor nanowires are used as the source materials for cadmium and sulfur and the template for the subsequent preparation of CdS nanowires using ethylene glycol as the solvent by a solvothermal method at 200 °C. The formation process of CdS nanowires is discussed. The samples are characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.