Enhanced photoluminescence properties of ZnS:Cu2+ nanoparticles using PMMA and CTAB surfactants

ZnS nanoparticles with Cu2+ doping have been synthesized at 80 degrees C through a soft chemical route, namely the chemical co-precipitation method at air atmosphere. The water soluble PMMA and CTAB were used as capping agents. The nanostructures of the synthesized nanoparticles have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The sizes of as-prepared nanoparticles are found to be below 3.4-5.2 nm 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 Cu2+ doped ZnS samples enhanced visible light emissions with emission intensities of similar to 2 times larger than that of the undoped sample are observed for CTAB capped sample. The phase changes were observed in different temperatures by TG-DTA. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.