Vertically aligned single-crystal zinc sulfide nanotubes with hexagonal cross-sections and optical properties

Abstract

Without the presence of any catalysts or templates, single-crystal zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanotubes have been successfully synthesized in bulk quantity by a facile and controllable process based on thermal evaporation of ZnS powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersed X-ray spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) were used to characterize the products. The results indicate that the synthesized ZnS nanotubes are single-crystalline with hexagonal cross-sections. The diameters of the ZnS nanotubes vary from 200 to 700nm and lengths are about several micrometers. The growth of ZnS nanotubes is controlled by the conventional rolling mechanism. And the room temperature photoluminescence (PL) indicated a stable and strong green emission centered at about 542nm, which may result from nanotube effects.