Enhanced visible light emission from Co2+ doped ZnS nanoparticles

ZnS nanoparticles with Co2+ doping have been prepared at room temperature through a soft chemical route, namely the chemical co-precipitation method. The nanostructures of the prepared nanoparticles have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The sizes of as prepared nanoparticles are found to be in 1-4nm range. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the undoped sample exhibits emission in the blue region with multiple peaks under UV excitation. On the other hand, in the Co2+ doped ZnS samples enhanced visible light emissions with emission intensities of similar to 35 times larger than that of the undoped sample are observed under the same UV excitation wavelength of 280 nm. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.