Thermal growth and luminescence of wurtzite ZnS nanowires and nanoribbons

ZnS nanowires and nanoribbons have been obtained by the vapor–solid (VS) method. The morphology depends mainly on the deposition temperature; nanowires are grown at temperatures between 300 °C and 650 °C while the growth of nanoribbons takes place at deposition temperatures in the range 650 °C–900 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show that from cubic ZnS precursor hexagonal-phase nanostructures are obtained. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements show a dominance of the native defects related emission compared to the near band edge emission, with marked differences between nanowires and nanoribbons.

► We have obtained nanowires, belt-like and saw-like ribbons of ZnS by the VS method.
► Growth directions have been determined from HRTEM measurements ([0001] and [011̄0] of the wurtzite phase).
► Luminescence measurements show that defect structure in both types of nanostructures is different.
► Nanowires spectra are usually dominated by orange and blue bands.
► Nanoribbons have a green band related to vacancy states.