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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Synthesis and Performance Evaluations of ZnCoS/ZnCdS with Twin Crystal Structure for Multifunctional Redox Photocatalysis in Energy Applications
Published on: July 25, 2025
Interaction of L-Cysteine with ZnO: Structure, Surface Chemistry, and Optical Properties
Alice Sandmann1, Alexander Kompch1, Viktor Mackert1
1†Nanoparticle Process Technology, ‡Interdisciplinary Center for Analytics on the Nanoscale, and CENIDEUniversity of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg 47057, Germany.
Abstract:
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were stabilized in water using the amino acid l-cysteine. A transparent dispersion was obtained with an agglomerate size on the level of the primary particles. The dispersion was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), pH dependent zeta potential measurements, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS, XANES) spectroscopy. Cysteine acts as a source for sulfur to form a ZnS shell around the ZnO core and as a stabilizer for these core-shell NPs. A large effect on the photoluminescent properties is observed: the intensity of the defect luminescence (DL) emission decreases by more than 2 orders of magnitude, the intensity of the near band edge (NBE) emission increases by 20%, and the NBE wavelength decreases with increasing cysteine concentration corresponding to a blue shift of about 35 nm due to the Burstein-Moss effect.
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