Structural and Optical Properties of ZnO1-xSx Nanoparticles

We describe a method for synthesis of semiconductor ZnO1-xSx(ZOS) nanoparticles by reaction of hydrogen sulfide with a mixture of ethanol solutions of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide salts. The nanoparticle composition, structure and optical properties are investigated for different ratios of the salt content in the mixture. Structure of ZOS nanoparticles changes from pure wurtzite (x <= 0.1) to sphalerite (0.5 <= x <= 1). Between x = 0.1 and 0.5 wurtzite and sphalerite phases coexist. According to the transmission electron microscopy as prepared nanoparticles have spherical shape and size of 10-20 nm in diameter. Cathodoluminescence spectra show the emission peaks in the UV- and the visible wavelength regions. The band gap of ZOS nanoparticles nonlinearly depends on the sulfur content as was evaluated from the diffuse reflectance measurements.