Low temperature synthesis of wurtzite form of ZnS from single source precursor

Abstract

Wurtzite form of ZnS has been prepared by heating zinc ethane thiol complex at a relatively low temperature of less than 300 °C. This low temperature synthesized, high temperature form of ZnS is quite stable and does not undergo conversion to cubic form even at annealing temperatures as high as 900 °C. The “c/a” ratio of ZnS lattice decreases whereas average crystallite size and “I(hkl)/I(002)” ratio increase with increase in annealing temperatures up to 700 °C and remains same for samples heated at 800 and 900 °C. Although crystallite sizes remain same for 800 and 900 °C heated samples, carbon species get removed from the lattice with increase in annealing temperatures and this is further confirmed by decrease in value of strain, FTIR and luminescence results. The synthesis method also can be used for doping transition metal ions such as Mn2+ in ZnS lattice. EPR Studies confirmed incorporation of Mn2+ ions at Zn2+ site in ZnS lattice.