Synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles via hydrothermal process assisted by microemulsion technique

Uniform and spherical ZnS nanoparticles with a diameter of 5–10 nm were successfully synthesized at 160 °C via a facile hydrothermal process, where ZnS precursors were prepared by a microemulsion technique. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescent (PL) spectra techniques, respectively. The results showed that the hydrothermal temperature exerted a more important effect than the holding time on the crystallization of ZnS crystallites. The as-prepared ZnS nanoparticles exhibited higher PL intensity than that of the normal ones of micrometer scale besides an obvious blue shift.