Synthesis of CdS nanoparticles with enhanced optical properties

Size tunability of thioglycerol capped cadmium sulphide nanoparticles has been achieved by controlling the capping reagent concentration as well as annealing temperature through chemical precipitation method. Optical and structural properties of CdS nanoparticles were studied through UV-Vis absorption, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Synthesis at 0.6 ml thioglycerol concentration produces stable nanoparticles of smallest size nearly 3+/-0.5 nm having narrow size distribution, high photoluminescence intensity and lower crystallinity. Annealing improves the crystallinity and reduces the defects levels. The attachment of particles, existence of intrinsic stacking faults, extrinsic stacking faults, twin boundaries, interface dislocations as well as clear lattice fringes in high resolution transmission electron microscopy images are also discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.