Design Principles and Material Engineering of ZnS for Optoelectronic Devices and Catalysis

ZnS, as one of the first semiconductors discovered and a rising material star, has embraced exciting breakthroughs in the past few years. To shed light on the design principles and engineering techniques of ZnS for improved/novel optoelectronic properties, the fundamental mechanisms and commonly employed strategies are proposed in this review. Recent progress on modifications of ZnS allows it to be extensively and effectively used in versatile applications, including transparent conductors, UV photodetectors, luminescent devices, and catalysis, which are clearly and comprehensively summarized in this work. Novel functional devices springing up from the newly developed ZnS-based materials are highlighted as well. This review not only provides a scientific insight into the advances of ZnS-based materials, but also touches on the future opportunities in this inspiring field.