Temperature-dependent photoluminescence from bicrystalline ZnS (core/shell) nanocables

The experimental study of the temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of bicrystalline ZnS core/shell nanocables under 10 K to 300 K was reported. The results show that there are two distinct peaks situated at the UV (about 372.6 nm) and green (about 500 nm) regions, respectively, and one blue-shoulder band (about 465 nm) superimposed between them for all spectra. The UV peak shows an obvious redshift with increasing temperature. The analyses of Gaussian-fitted the blue-shoulder band and the green bands from 10 K to 300 K reveal that all spectra can be well fitted by three Gaussian peaks: blue peak (B, about 2.67 eV), two green peaks (G1, about 2.47 eV and G2, about 2.42 eV). With increasing temperature, the blue band shows blueshift. The green bands show anomalous transition: green band G1 shows blueshift–redshift transition and green band G2 shows redshift–blueshift. The origins of these bands and their temperature-dependent shifts are explained based on defect levels and strong carrier localization effect at the defect levels in addition to band-gap shrinkage.