Color tuning of photoluminescence from ZnS nanobelts synthesized with Cu and Mn doping and without intentionally doping

Unintentionally doped and Cu and Mn doped ZnS nanobelts were synthesized via the vapor phase transport method. The nanobelts have the single crystalline wurtzite structure. By modifying the mass ratio of source to dopant, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra from the Cu and Mn doped ZnS nanobelts can be tuned to center around 450 nm (blue) and 580 (orange), respectively. The PL spectra from the unintentionally doped ones synthesized in highly purified N2 and N2/H2 gases center around 520 nm (green) and 660 nm (red), respectively. As far as we know, the blue colored PL of Cu doped ZnS nanobelts and the red colored PL of ZnS nanobelts are reported for the first time. In this way, the PL color from ZnS nanobelts can be tuned from blue to red. The ZnS nanobelts have potential application in the nano-multicolor displays.