Fabrication and characterization of ZnO@CdS core–shell nanostructure using acetate precursors: XRD, FESEM, DRS, FTIR studies and effects of cadmium ion concentration on band gap

•Nanostructure ZnO@CdS core–shell was fabricated by chemical route.•Zinc and cadmium acetate was used as precursors.•FTIR and UV-DRS measurements were performed for structural and optical properties.

ZnO@CdS core–shell nano-structure has been synthesized using zinc acetate dihydrate, and cadmium acetate dihydrate as simple precursors in a water–ethanol matrix without using any surfactant, ligand or chelating agents. The effect of different concentrations of cadmium acetate and sodium sulfide on optical and electronic properties of ZnO@CdS core–shell was investigated. The morphology and structure of the ZnO@CdS core–shell nano-structures have been confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The results showed that the ZnO@CdS core–shell nano-structure is mixed cubic and hexagonal structures. FESEM results showed the mono-dispersed and uniform size of 39 nm. Optical properties were studied by UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) technique and the results showed that band gaps of ZnO@CdS core–shell nanocomposites were red shifted by increasing the cadmium concentration. FTIR spectrum of ZnO@CdS core–shell nano-structure showed a band at 482 cm−1 correlated to ZnO bond and a band at 630 cm−1 due to the stretching frequency of CdS bond.

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