Optical properties of silver-doped ZnS nanostructures

Abstract

Silver (Ag)-doped and un-doped Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanostructures (NSs) with different concentrations (ZnS: Ag 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%) were prepared by using the chemical method at room temperature. Doping of Ag into ZnS nanostructures modified its optical properties. The size and crystallinity of stabilized ZnS:Ag nanostructures are confirmed with SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). The formation of nanostructures is justified by UV-visible absorption spectra. The luminescence intensity of nanostructures has increased drastically at ZnS:Ag-10% and is characterized by a fluorescence spectrometer. The nonlinear optical properties are found by using the Z-scan setup and act as optical limiters. The nonlinear absorption coefficient [Formula: see text] and nonlinear refractive index ([Formula: see text] are in the range of 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm/W and 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm2/W, respectively. The optical limiting threshold value is 0.11 J/cm2. These nanostructures can be used as optical limiters.