Enhanced photoluminescence properties of ZnS:Cu2+ nanoparticles using PMMA and CTAB surfactants

ZnS nanoparticles with Cu2+ doping have been synthesized at 80 °C through a soft chemical route, namely the chemical co-precipitation method at air atmosphere. The water soluble PMMA and CTAB were used as capping agents. The nanostructures of the synthesized nanoparticles have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), UV–vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The sizes of as-prepared nanoparticles are found to be below 3.4–5.2 nm range. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the undoped sample exhibits emission in the blue region with multiple peaks under UV excitation. On the other hand, in the Cu2+ doped ZnS samples enhanced visible light emissions with emission intensities of ∼2 times larger than that of the undoped sample are observed for CTAB capped sample. The phase changes were observed in different temperatures by TG-DTA.