ZnS Nanostructures Research Articles

Effect of Ag doping on the structural, morphological, optical and antibacterial activity of ZnS nanoparticles

In this study Ag-doped ZnS nanostructures for antibacterial activity were prepared by means of a facile wet-chemical method. XRD study reveals a decrease in the intensity of XRD peaks and the presence of an additional peak for silver which further affirms the incorporation of silver ions in ZnS matrix. The synthesized 1% Ag-doped ZnS nanostructures have the average particle size distribution of 16.45 ± 0.13 nm based on the TEM image. The antimicrobial activity of pure ZnS and Ag-doped ZnS were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results show that the bacterial inhibition was enhanced due to the doping of Ag into ZnS matrix in contrast to ZnS. This results obtained from the antibacterial study could be capitalized to be administered as a potent antibacterial drug for biomedical application.

Improved photocatalytic performance of cobalt doped ZnS decorated with graphene nanostructures under ultraviolet and visible light for efficient hydrogen production

Highly dispersed Cobalt doped ZnS nanostructures were successfully fabricated on the surfaces of graphene sheets via a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photocurrent spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to analyze the structural characteristics of the cobalt doped ZnS decorated with graphene CoxZn1-xS\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\rm Co}_x{\\rm Zn}_{1-x}{\\rm S}$$\\end{document} rGO nanostructures (NSs). UV-visible optical absorption (UV-vis) studies were conducted to investigate their optical properties. In laboratory studies utilizing water and visible light, the photocatalytic activity of CoxZn1-xS\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\rm Co}_x{\\rm Zn}_{1-x}S$$\\end{document}rGO NSs at (x = 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 atm.%) were evaluated. Graphite Oxide (GO) was successfully transformed into sheets of graphene and CoxZn1-xSrGO\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\rm Co}_x{\\rm Zn}_{1-x}{\\rm S \\, rGO}$$\\end{document} NSs possessed a crystalline structure according to the findings of XRD, RS and FTIR analysis. SEM investigation showed graphene sheets enhanced with ZnS NSs possessed cuboidal, spheroidal form of structure and displayed a paper like appearance. UV-vis confirmed a noticeable rapid increase in transmittance along the UV wavelength area and confirmed a highly transparent NSs in the wavelength range of (180-800 nm). Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the Co NSs have more negative conduction bands than ZnS, allowing for effective electron transfer from cobalt to ZnS and exhibiting a band gap decrease as Co content increased. The Co0.04Zn0.96S\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\rm Co}_{0.04}{\\rm Zn}_{0.96}S$$\\end{document} rGO NSs sample had the highest photocatalytic activity, measured at 7648.9μmolh-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$7648.9 \\, \\upmu {\\rm mol} \\, {\\rm h}^{-1}$$\\end{document}. A combination of improved dispersion properties, greater surface area, increased absorption and enhanced transfer of photogenerated electrons, CoxZn1-xS\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\rm Co}_x{\\rm Zn}_{1-x}S$$\\end{document} rGO NSs increased the photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity.

Computational screening of transition metal atom doped ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures as promising bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts.

The design of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts showing high catalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for developing new renewable energy storage and conversion technologies. Herein, based on the first principles calculations, we systematically explored the electrocatalytic activity of a series of transition metal atom (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pd and Pt)-doped ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures for OER and ORR. The calculated results revealed that Ni- and Pt-doped ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures exhibit promising electrocatalytic performance for both OER and ORR in comparison to the pristine ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures. Especially, the OER/ORR overpotentials of Ni-doped ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures are estimated to be 0.28/0.30 and 0.31/0.31 V, respectively, disclosing their great potential as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. Moreover, it is found that Ni-doped ZnS and ZnSe nanostructures for OER and ORR are on the top of the volcano plots, evincing promising catalytic performance. Our results provide theoretical insights into a feasible strategy to synthesize highly efficient ZnS- and ZnSe-based bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts in the future.

Controllable medium layer of ZnS or CdS nanostructures as cocatalyst onto CuO-ZnO heterojunction for enhancing photocatalytic activity

This study explores the construction and performance of CuO-ZnS-ZnO and CuO-CdS-ZnO heterojunction structures on Cu gauze substrates. The assembly process involves three stages: growing CuO nanowires via direct heating, decorating them with ZnS or CdS nanostructures, and growing ZnO nanowires using wet chemical methods. Characterization with FESEM, XRD, FETEM, EDS, and XPS verified the successful preparation of the CuO-CdS-ZnO heterostructures. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by examining the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) solution under UVC light exposure. CuO-CdS-ZnO heterostructures with a 5 mM CdS precursor concentration showed superior photocatalytic efficiency compared to CuO-ZnS-ZnO heterostructures. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy indicated more efficient charge separation in CuO-CdS-ZnO, enhancing photocatalytic activity. Experiments with radical scavengers highlighted that hydroxyl and superoxide radicals are the primary reactive species responsible for the degradation of RhB solution. A proposed mechanism highlights the improved electron and hole migration in CuO-CdS-ZnO heterostructures, contributing to their superior performance. Stability tests showed consistent efficiency over multiple cycles, confirming the durability and reusability of these heterostructures. Additionally, CuO-CdS-ZnO heterostructures demonstrated excellent photocatalytic performance under solar light, outperforming CuO-ZnS-ZnO heterostructures. This study underscores the potential of CuO-CdS-ZnO heterostructures for effective and sustainable photocatalytic applications.

Tailoring the optoelectronic and spintronics properties of Cr-doped ZnS nanostructure thin films

This paper discusses the tailoring of the optoelectronic and spintronic of Cr3+-doped ZnS nanostructured electron beam evaporated thin films. The XRD measurements confirm the zinc blende cubic structure for the films with a preferred orientation along the (111) direction. The nanostructured features of the films were verified from the XRD and AFM results. The EDXS and XPS data show the stoichiometric chemical and electronic states of the films. Spectrophotometry measurements for the films show that the energy gap decreases from 3.67 eV to 3.43 eV as the Cr3+ increases from 0 at. % to 8.0 at.%. Such reduction of the Eg of the Cr3+-doped ZnS is attributed to the sp-d coupling. The strong PL asymmetric peak of the Cr3+-doped ZnS is observed, which is quenched and red shifted with increasing Cr doping level. Furthermore, the magnetic measurements show the occurrence of weak room temperature ferromagnetic behavior. On the other hand, the results further show that the magnetization increases with the increase of the Cr3+ dopants up to x = 0.05, then decreases with increasing the Cr doping above x = 0.05. This can be attributed to the development of the antiferromagnetic ordering.

Facile synthesis of Ni-doped ZnS nanostructures and their photocatalytic activity to RhB

In this paper, pure ZnS and Ni-doped ZnS nanostructures (Ni–ZnS) were prepared by facile template-free hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Ni–ZnS was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, XPS, and UV–Vis DRS. The effects of different Ni doping amounts and hydrothermal reaction temperatures were investigated. The photocatalytic ability was evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The results indicated that the doping of Ni effectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity of pure ZnS. Ni–ZnS exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic properties, the reaction rate constant (0.01154 min−1) is higher than that of pure ZnS (0.00218 min−1). Carrier separation efficiency and charge transport efficiency were investigated by transient photocurrent response (TPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scavenger test was used to determine the role of active species, combining the analysis results of UV–Vis DRS, TPS, and EIS, accordingly the photocatalytic mechanism of Ni–ZnS was proposed.

Improvements of multifunctional spintronic and optoelectronic applications of nanostructured Eu-doped ZnS thin films through magnetic and linear, nonlinear optical investigations

This study describes the spintronic and optoelectronic improvements upon Eu substitution in Zn atomic site of the nanostructure ZnS thin films. The electron beam deposition technique has been used to deposit a series of Zn1-xEuxS thin films on a glass substrate with different Eu dopants (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.08). The nanostructure nature of the Eu-doped ZnS thin film has been confirmed from structural and morphology studies performed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscope (AFM) measurements. XRD investigations further show a hexagonal-type structure with no detectable extra phases with the lattice parameter c increasing, while a decrease linearly with increasing Eu-dopant in the ZnS hosted lattice. The microstructures analysis reveals a reduction in the mean crystallite size and increasing in the lattice strain of the films with rising Eu doping. The Fourier transform infrared spectra display the existence of chemical bonds in the thin films whereas photoluminescence reveals near-band edge emission. The linear optical parameters were obtained from the analysis of the transmission data measured by the spectrophotometer technique. The results reveal that the band gap energy (EgOpt) reduces by raising ohe Eu doping ratio, which is ascribed to the structural deformation (strain and/or defects) confirmed from structural analysis, density of localized states and PL measurements. The index of refraction n was calculated using the Swanepoel method. The values were found to increase as the level of Eu doping grows, which is associated with the rise in polarizability. Wemple and DiDomenico's (WDD) model was utilized to compute the dispersive and oscillator energies (Eo, and Ed), the nonlinear absorption coefficient βc, nonlinear refractive index n2, and nonlinear optical susceptibility χ3. The results demonstrate that the adjustability of EgOpt , Eo, and Ed of ZnS: Eu films is conducted to improve the nonlinear optical characteristics, providing it well-suited for optoelectronic device implementations. On the other hand, ZnS doped with Eu film displays inherent ferromagnetic properties at room temperature, as evidenced by the results of the magnetic investigation. This finding could be attributed to the presence of sulphur defects (vacancies), as supported by photoluminescence (PL) measurements, which lead to the creation of the bound magnetic polaron. These discoveries indicate the potential of utilizing Eu-doped ZnS film in the effective development of spintronic devices.

Enhanced optical third-harmonic generation in phase-engineered nanostructured Zn1−x Cd x S thin films for optoelectronic device applications

A polycrystalline nanostructured thin film of zinc cadmium sulfide was meticulously fabricated on a glass substrate using the thermal evaporation method physical vapor deposition within a vacuum chamber. Different doping concentrations were introduced by varying the cadmium (Cd) content, resulting in Zn1-x Cd x S films with Cd concentrations ranging from x = 0.00–0.20 wt %. The impact of Cd doping on the third-order nonlinear optical (TONLO) properties of these films was thoroughly studied using the Z-scan method, employing a diode-pumped solid-state continuous-wave laser. To gain insight into the structural characteristics, the Zn1-x Cd x S thin films underwent analysis through x-ray diffraction. Optical studies confirmed the tunability of the optical band gap (Eg) in the Zn1-x Cd x S films, ranging from 3.88 eV for undoped ZnS to 2.80 eV for the film fabricated with 20 wt. % of Cd-content. This significant reduction in ‘Eg’ renders the films highly suitable for use as absorbing layers in applications such as solar cells and optoelectronics. Surface morphology analysis, performed via field emission scanning electron microscopy, revealed noticeable alterations with increased Cd doping. Significantly, the doped films exhibited a substantial redshift in the band edge and an increase in transmittance within the visible and near-infrared regions. The investigation of TONLO properties, including the nonlinear absorption coefficient (β), nonlinear refractive index (n 2) and susceptibility χ(3), yielded values ranging from 3.15 × 10−3 to 8.16 × 10−3 (cm W−1), 1.65 × 10−8 to 7.45 x 10–8 (cm2 W−1), and 3.12 × 10−5 to 7.86 × 10−5 (esu), respectively. These results indicate the presence of self-defocusing nonlinearity in the films. Overall, the outcomes underscore the potential of Cd-doped ZnS nanostructures in modifying surface morphology and enhancing NLO characteristics. Zn1-x Cd x S thin films exhibit promise for applications in nonlinear optical devices, as evidenced by these encouraging findings.

Fabrication and Characterization of Nano-Structured ZnS:Cu LED

A wide range of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) applications, from general lighting to transmission sources of the Visual Light Communication (VLC) system, makes the LEDs very important to be developed. This research focuses on comparing LED performance due to the variation in surface size and shape of the LED. The research method is carried out with a simulation and an experimental approach. Before the experiment, the LED was simulated with nanopattern variations to determine the best fabrication parameter. The simulation method is carried out using Ansys Lumerical FDTD 2021. The experiment method used to fabricate nanopatterns on the surface of a semiconductor LED layer uses the nanoimprint lithography method. Stamps for nanoimprint lithography are made using Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and the nanopattern sources are obtained from DVD and Blu-ray grating patterns. The characterization of nanoscale patterns was carried out using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The light emission intensity is measured using a lux meter at a series of emission angles. The results obtained from this research are that the smaller the width and the periodicity of the grating nanopattern, the light produced will be distributed at a wider angle, but the light intensity will decrease; conversely, for a planar surface without a grating nanopattern, level of focus and intensity of light will be higher. In addition, the thicker the ZnS:Cu layer, the better the intensity of the light produced.

Spectroscopic analysis of Cu doped and starch capped ZnS nanocrystals synthesized by microwave irradiation

The synthesis of undoped and copper doped ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) by a facile starch mediated microwave assisted hydrothermal route is reported in this work. Polycrystalline, cubic ZnS nanostructure of the samples were revealed by X-ray diffraction studies. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis revealed the crystalline nature of NPs with size distribution in 2–7 nm range. Analysis of X-ray emission induced by particles of samples indicated presence of copper content in the sample. Cu doping showed a strong influence on the green emission properties of the ZnS NPs under UV light illumination. The band gap values determined from UV–Vis absorption studies were higher than that for bulk ZnS (3.68 eV), confirming quantum confinement effect. Further, starch capping and Cu doping confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra. A strong PL emission around 507 nm observed due to carrier transition from conduction band of ZnS to Cu2+ t2 level. The intensity of this peak reduced at high dopant concentration due to quenching.

Corrosion Resistance of NiS, ZnS and NiS/ZnS Thin Films Deposited by Spray Pyrolysis Technique on Low Carbon Steel in 3.5% Nacl Solution

Abstract In this work, the main object of this research is to investigate a new material based on ZnS and NiS nanostructures. NiS and ZnS solutions were sprayed on the heated Low Carbon Steel by a spray pneumatic deposition method. Electrochemical analyses of the prepared samples were investigated. The high corrosion resistance of coated by ZnS sample have a low value of surface roughness. However, the coated sample by ZnS also has good stabilization after corrosion and high compact of the film.

Controllable hydrothermal synthesis of hollow ZnS nanospheres: Morphological evolution mechanism and photocatalytic performance

ZnS hollow nanostructures have attracted much attention due to their special structural advantages and wide range of application. Exploring a convenient method for controllable synthesis of ZnS hollow nanostructures and clarifying the formation mechanisms are important prerequisites for subsequent performance regulation. In this article, we propose a facile method for controllable preparation of homogeneous ZnS hollow nanospheres and clarified the morphological evolution mechanism. ZnS hollow nanospheres with uniform size and good dispersibility were synthesized by adding PVP and excessive thiourea during the hydrothermal process. By systematically studying the influence of experimental parameters on the morphology, the influence diagram of thiourea and PVP on the product morphology was drawn. It is found that excess thiourea is the determining factor for the formation of hollow structures, and PVP plays a key role in the size uniformity and dispersion of the product. The formation mechanism is proposed in which thiourea serves as the reaction source and adsorbed molecule, while PVP serves as a dispersant, both of which worked together to the product morphology and size. The photocatalytic experiments indicate that hollow nanospheres with small size and good dispersibility exhibit a better photocatalytic degradation effect. This work elaborates on how the adsorption of thiourea molecules and the steric hindrance of PVP affect the grain aggregation and growth, which inspirational for the controllable synthesis of the required ZnS nanostructures and further research on their properties.

Size-Controlled ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized with Thioacetamide and Formation of ZnS Quantum Dots

In this work, we report the first attempt to investigate the dependence of thioacetamide (TAA) on the size of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in forming ZnS nanostructures from ZnO. Size-controlled B(blue)_, G(green)_, and Y(yellow)_ZnO quantum dots (QDs) and NC (nanocrystalline)_ZnO NPs were synthesized using a sol–gel process and a hydrothermal method, respectively, and then reacted with an ethanolic TAA solution as a sulfur source. ZnO QDs/NPs began to decompose into ZnS QDs through a reaction with TAA for 5~10 min, so rather than forming a composite of ZnO/ZnS, ZnO QDs and ZnS QDs were separated and remained in a mixed state. At last, ZnO QDs/NPs were completely decomposed into ZnS QDs after a reaction with TAA for 1 h irrespective of the size of ZnO QDs up to ~50 nm. All results indicate that ZnS formation is due to direct crystal growth and/or the chemical conversion of ZnO to ZnS.

Low threshold room-temperature lasing emission from high-crystalline ZnS nanowires and nanobelts

ZnS nanostructures possess exceptional features, making them highly promising as gain media and optical waveguides for nanolasers and optoelectronic devices. These features include low lasing thresholds and effortless fabrication. In this study, we present high-crystalline ZnS nanowires (NWs) and nanobelts (NBs) synthesized by using a thermal evaporation route. The remarkably low lasing thresholds of 45.3–45.5 W/cm2 are achieved at room temperature, marking a two-orders-of-magnitude improvement over reported values for ZnS nanostructures. Comprehensive analysis, incorporating techniques such as x-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence, confirms the great quality of the synthesized nanostructures. The excitonic lasing emissions from ZnS NWs and NBs exhibit small full width at half maximum values of 5.9 and 0.53 nm, respectively. These emissions occur within cavities measuring ∼5.1 to 5.6 μm, with high-quality factors (112.6 for ZnS NWs and 598.6 for ZnS NBs), further highlighting the excellent performance of the materials. Moreover, the gain factors of 17.32–26.63 underscore the significant potential of ZnS NWs and NBs as prime candidates for ultraviolet photonic devices.

Solution-Processed 1D Wurtzite ZnS Nanostructures with Controlled Crystallographic Orientation and Tunable Band-Edge Emission.

1D compound semiconductor nanomaterials possess unique physicochemical properties that strongly depend on their size, composition, and structures. ZnS has been widely investigated as one of the most important semiconductors, and the control of crystallographic orientation of 1D ZnS nanostructures is still challenging and crucial to exploring their anisotropic properties. Herein, a solution-processed strategy is developed to synthesize 1D wurtzite (w-)ZnS nanostructures with the specific <002> and <210> orientations by co-decomposing the copper dibutyldithiocarbamate {[(C4 H9 )2 NCS2 ]2 Cu, i.e., R2 Cu} and zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate (R2 Zn) precursors in the mixed solvents of oleylamine and 1-dodecanethoil. A solution-solid-solid (SSS)-Oriented growth mechanism is proposed, which includes oriented nucleation dominated and SSS growth dominated stages. The crystallographic orientation mainly depends on the interfacial energy and ligand effect. The 1D w-ZnS nanostructures with controlled crystallographic orientation display unique morphologies, i.e., <002>-oriented w-ZnS nanorod enclosed with {110} facets while <210>-oriented w-ZnS nanobelt enclosed with wide (002) and narrow (110) facets. The bandgap of 1D w-ZnS nanostructures can be tuned from 3.94 to 3.82eV with the crystallographic growth direction varied from <002> to <210>, thus leading to the tunable band-edge emission from ≈338 to ≈345nm.

Influence of molar concentration on structural, morphological, optical and luminescence of polyvinyl alcohol-capped nanostructured ZnS films

Nanostructured ZnS films of various molar concentrations have been deposited using chemical bath deposition (CBD) method on glass substrates in the matrix of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Structural analysis of the samples with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the films are of cubic phase structure and diffraction peaks shift toward higher diffraction angle with the increase of molar concentration. Crystallite size is obtained using Scherrer’s formula, Williamson–Hall (WH) plot as well as size–strain plot (SSP), and reveals decrease in size with increasing molar concentration. Surface morphology and surface texture of the samples are observed with the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-resolution transmission electron microcopy (HRTEM) which exhibit the roughly spherical shape of the particles as well as formation of cluster by a large number of ZnS nanoparticles. Observation from selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern also confirms the cubic phase of nanostructured ZnS samples. Surface topographic study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also shows particle agglomeration forming nanoclusters and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy observation reveals that the films are composed of zinc and sulfur. With the increase of molar concentration, the optical bandgap energy increases whereas the refractive index as well as dielectric constant decrease, and in comparison to ZnS bulk counterpart, the samples are found to be blue-shifted. Samples exhibit blue emission photoluminescence (PL) band and second-order Raman scattering. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) technique is utilized to detect the presence of stabilizing agent.

Study of structural and spectroscopic characterization of ZnS nanoparticles and its application as supercapacitor

ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared by co-precipitation method using ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid as a stabilizer and capping agent. The structural, morphological and optical properties of as-synthesized NPs are investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction pattern exhibits a zinc-blended crystal structure at room temperature. The particle size was found to be in the range of 22.22 nm. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum shows the blue shift in the bandgap due to the quantum confinement effect. The photoluminescence spectrum of ZnS NPs shows a blue visible spectrum. The template of the cyclic voltammetry contour demonstrated a strong rate suggesting that the ZnS nanostructure electrode has a reduced polarization effect. The above studies have provided resplendent efficiency and proven that ZnS NPs can be used as a prominent material for supercapacitor applications.

Structural and optical properties of broccoli-based nanostructured ZnS films synthesized by powder vapor transport technique

Structural and optical properties of broccoli-based nanostructured ZnS films synthesized by powder vapor transport technique

A novel biosensor based on AAO nanochannels modified with ZnS nanostructure for sensitive detection of tetracycline

• A confined self-assembly system based on AAO/ZnS for the detection of tetracycline is fabricated. • The current change ratios of tetracycline detection in the presence of different concentration are calculated. • The system is valid for the detection of tetracycline with an excellent sensitivity. Herein, a confined self-assembly system based on AAO/ZnS for the detection of tetracycline is fabricated in this article. According to the optimized experimental results, when the aperture of AAO, the reaction time, and the reaction voltage are 80–100 nm, 30 min, and 1.5 V, respectively, the best assembly system is obtained. In addition, the detection sensitivity of the system for tetracycline is investigated and the experimental results show that this system is effective and sensitive for the detection of tetracycline. This work not only proposes a new idea for combining nanomaterials and biomimetic nanochannels, but also exhibits great potential in improving the sensitivity of detecting biomolecules.

In situ synthesis of hierarchically-assembled three-dimensional ZnS nanostructures and 3D printed visualization

Nanomaterials have gained enormous interest in improving the performance of energy harvest systems, biomedical devices, and high-strength composites. Many studies were performed fabricating more elaborate and heterogeneous nanostructures then the structures were characterized using TEM tomographic images, upgrading the fabrication technique. Despite the effort, intricate fabrication process, agglomeration characteristic, and non-uniform output were still limited to presenting the 3D panoramic views straightforwardly. Here we suggested in situ synthesis method to prepare complex and hierarchically-assembled nanostructures that consisted of ZnS nanowire core and nanoparticles under Ag2S catalyst. We demonstrated that the vaporized Zn and S were solidified in different shapes of nanostructures with the temperatures solely. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of synthesizing heterogeneous nanostructures, consisting of a nanowire from the vapor–liquid–solid and then nanoparticles from the vapor–solid grown mechanism by in situ temperature control. The obtained hierarchically-assembled ZnS nanostructures were characterized by various TEM technologies, verifying the crystal growth mechanism. Lastly, electron tomography and 3D printing enabled the nanoscale structures to visualize with centimeter scales. The 3D printing from randomly fabricated nanomaterials is rarely performed to date. The collaborating work could offer a better opportunity to fabricate advanced and sophisticated nanostructures.