Phase-controlled synthesis of ZnS nanocrystallites by mild solvothermal decomposition of an air-stable single-source molecular precursor

The phase-controlled synthesis of ZnS nanocrystallites from an air-stable single-source molecular precursor (zinc diethyldithiocarbamate: Zn-(DDTC)2) has been achieved by two facile steps: firstly, the Zn-(DDTC)2 was prepared directly via the precipitation reaction of zinc acetate and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in distilled water under ambient condition; secondly, pure cubic and hexagonal phases of ZnS nanocrystallites could be obtained just by low-temperature (150-200 °C) solvothermal decomposition of the Zn-(DDTC)2 in distilled water and ethanol, respectively. The as-obtained products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis absorption spectra.