Composition-dependent optical properties of ZnxCd1−xS synthesized by precipitable-hydrothermal process

High-quality ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals have been synthesized by mild and facile precipitable-hydrothermal processes using stable, less toxic inorganic salts Cd(Ac)2, Zn(Ac)2 and Na2S as the starting materials. The composition-dependence optical properties of ZnxCd1−xS are studied by UV–visible absorption, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The near band edge luminescence is observed for ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals with relatively narrow full width at half-maximum besides the deep level luminescence of ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals. The linear-dependence of Raman frequency on the composition xx indicates the optical phonons of ZnxCd1−xS exhibit the one-mode behavior. These ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals with composition-dependent optical properties synthesized by this convenient, cost-effective and easily controllable approach have potential applications in solar cell, photocatalysis, and optoelectric devices, etc.