Controllable synthesis and optical properties of Zn-doped CdS nanorods from single-source molecular precursors

The controllable synthesis of hexagonal Zn-doped CdS (Cd1-xZnxS, x = 0-0.3) nanorods from a class of solid air-stable single-source molecular precursors (cadmium zinc bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate), Cd1-xZnx-(DDTC)(2)) has been achieved by two facile steps: first, Cd1-xZnx-(DDTC)(2) (x = 0-0.3) was prepared directly through precipitation reactions of stoichiometric cadmium sulfate, zinc acetate, and sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in distilled water under ambient condition; second, pure hexagonal phase Cd1-xZnxS (x = 0-0.3) nanorods with different aspect ratios were produced via solvothermal treatment of the precursor compounds in ethylenediamine or 50 vol % ethylenediamine aqueous solution at 180 degrees C for 12 h. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It was observed that the optical band gap energies and photoluminescence peaks of the as-synthesized Cd1-xZnxS (x = 0-0.3) nanorods shift systematically toward shorter wavelengths with an increase of the Zn content; they are promising materials for photocatalysts and optoelectronic devices.