Abstract
Samples of non-stoichiometric nano-CdS1−x were synthesized by a simple thermolysis method by lowering the ratio of thiourea relative to cadmium acetate as starting precursors: Cd(Ac):(1 − x) thiourea (x = 0.0, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.1). X’pert HighScore Plus program manifested biphasic CdS (cubic and hexagonal), and the Rietveld analysis was utilized to match the structural and microstructure parameters of the formed samples. The possibility of formed CdS1−xOx alloy due to the sulfur deficiency is also examined using the Rietveld method. A high-resolution transmission electron microscope imaging exhibited nanosize particles with homogeneous morphology. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was utilized to confirm the existence of O2 in CdS1−x matrix. The band-gap energies for CdS1−x are reduced below the values of energy gaps of CdS and CdO upon increasing the parameter (x) forming a band-gap “bowing.” The photoluminescence (PL) emitted visible colors depending on the amount of sulfur deficiency and excitation wavelength used. The maximum PL intensity observed in CdS0.9 sample confirmed the presents of oxygen inside the matrix. The influence of oxygen substitution or vacancies of sulfur on the electronic structure and optical features of CdS was also investigated applying density function calculations.
Highlights
In the last years, inorganic semiconductor materials such as ZnS, ZnO, Cadmium sulfide (CdS), SnS2, CuS or CdSe [1,2,3,4,5,6]have been broadly considered due to their uses in the people’s daily life
Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a familiar semiconductor photocatalytic material that possesses a wide bandgap ≈ 2.4 eV [3], and it exhibited a rapid generation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs [7]
Rietveld analysis emphasized that O atoms are introduced into the CdS1 − x lattice to recompense the sulfur deficiency, producing an alloy CdS1 − xOx
Summary
Inorganic semiconductor materials such as ZnS, ZnO, CdS, SnS2, CuS or CdSe [1,2,3,4,5,6]have been broadly considered due to their uses in the people’s daily life. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a familiar semiconductor photocatalytic material that possesses a wide bandgap ≈ 2.4 eV [3], and it exhibited a rapid generation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs [7]. CdS has rapid recombination of carriers and photocorrosion which limited its uses in photocatalytic activity [8]. CdS needed high temperatures and expensive inert environments during preparation with traditional methods [9]. Several methods were used to prepare CdS in different size, shape and morphology to enhance its stability and photocatalytic activity under visible light [10]. CdS can crystallize in one or more phases (cubic zinc blend, hexagonal wurtzite, rock-salt phase) [11]. CdS can be found with the hexagonal phase under ambient conditions, while CdS with the cubic phase can exist when the crystallite size reduced
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