Selective synthesis of ZnS nanowire-bundles and nanowires via different growth mechanisms

•Selective synthesis of ZnS nanowire-bundles and nanowires was realized.•Template growth from coordination effect of oleylamine yielded ZnS nanowire-bundles.•The Ag2S-catalyzed growth led to ZnS nanowires of a relatively thick diameter.•Catalytic growth was stronger than template growth in the above selective synthesis.

Template growth and catalytic growth are two typical mechanisms that are often used to produce one-dimensional II–VI semiconductor nanostructures. Here we report the selective syntheses of ZnS nanowire-bundles and nanowires respectively based on these two different mechanisms. Oleylamine is employed as solvent and coordinating agent, which induces a template growth mechanism and thus yields ZnS nanowire-bundles composed of thin nanowires. With adding AgNO3 into oleylamine, an Ag2S-catalyzed growth mechanism is initiated and is found much stronger than the template growth, leading to ZnS nanowires of a relatively thick diameter. The proofs of the template mechanism arising from oleylamine and the catalytic mechanism based on Ag2S catalytic particles have been provided and meanwhile the competition and transition between such two mechanisms are discussed.