Direct synthesis of ZnS nanoribbons, micro-sheets and tetrapods

ZnS nano and micro structures such as nanoribbons, large sheets and tetrapod shaped crystals were fabricated by direct thermal evaporation of ZnS powder without using any catalyst. Formation of the one dimensional structures such as nanoribbons and micron order sheets was attributed to the vapor-solid growth mechanism. The formation of octahedron nucleus with cubic crystal structures was proposed as the growth unit of the wurtzite crystal structured tetrapods. Appearance of the periodic stacking faults or twining planes in between alternate cubic and hexagonal crystal structured zones along the growth direction of the ribbons provided secondary growth sites for the octahedron nucleus and subsequent crystal growth resulted in to the formation of the tetrapod arrays. These nano/micro structures of ZnS exhibited a green emission band at room temperature.