Temperature dependence of photoluminescence and magnetic properties in Yb3+-doped ZnS nanocrystals

Zinc sulfide semiconductor nanocrystals doped with Yb3+ ions have been prepared through a chemical precipitation method using PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) as a capping agent. The structure of the nanoparticles has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The average size of the nanoparticles is found to be 3.7±0.4 nm. Photoluminescence spectra were recorded for doped ZnS nanoparticles as a function of temperature between 9 and 300 K. The results suggest that two emission bands have been observed at different temperatures. The width of 1.269 eV peak increases as temperature is raised. A shift of lower energy emission band has been observed with the change of temperature. Moreover, the magnetic measurement showed that the sample exhibits paramagnetic behavior.