Morphology Control and Growth Mechanism Study of Quantum-Sized ZnS Nanocrystals from Single-Source Precursors

The growing demand of metal sulfides using in various applications has in turn greatly stimulated basic research to develop novel nanomaterials with controlled size, shape, phase and desired properties. Specifically, ultrathin ZnS nanowires with diameter of less than 2 nm have attracted significant interest because of their considerable promise in sensors, phosphor host materials, photodetectors, and other devices. A novel method for the synthesis of controlled morphology, phase and size of ZnS nanocrystals has been developed. Especially, ultrathin ZnS nanowires with 1.5 nm in diameter were synthesized from single-source precursor zinc dicarbazoledithiocarbamate using oleylamine as capping ligand and solvent. Strong quantum confinement effects related to the unique nature of these ultrathin ZnS nanowires were observed. More importantly, we have presented the evidence for the assembly of ultra-small ZnS nanoparticles in 1-D polymer-like structures achieved by oriented attachment mechanism for synthesis of ultrathin ZnS nanowires.