Synthesis of cubic ZnS microspheres exhibiting broad visible emission for bioimaging applications

Biocompatible ZnS microspheres with an average diameter of 3.85 µm were grown by solvo-hydrothermal (S-H) method using water-acetonitrile-ethylenediamine (EDA) solution combination. ZnS microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The broad photoluminescence (PL) emissions from 380-580 nm that were seen from the ZnS microspheres attributed to the increase in carrier concentration, as understood from the observed intense Raman band at 257 cm(-1). Cytotoxicity and haemocompatibility investigations of these ZnS microspheres revealed its biocompatibility. ZnS microspheres, along with biological cell lines, were giving visible light emission and could be used for bioimaging applications.