Growth, stability, optical and photoluminescent properties of aqueous colloidal ZnS nanoparticles in relation to surfactant molecular structure

► Influence of various cationic and anionic surfactants as surface modifiers on synthesis of colloidal ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) has been compared. ► The tendency of the cationic surfactants to stabilize the ZnS NPs decreases with decreasing their hydrocarbon chain length. ► The anionic surfactants have been proven to be better stabilizing agents as compared to cationic surfactants of same hydrocarbon chain length. ► The growth behavior of ZnS NPs, as evident from red shift in absorption spectra has been found to be quite different in all the six surfactants. ► In presence of anionic surfactants, the whole absorption spectra of ZnS NPs witnessed prominent red shift with time indicating particle growth.