ZnS nanostructures: From synthesis to applications

One-dimensional (1D) semiconductor nanostructures are of prime interest due to their potential in investigating the size and dimensionality dependence of the materials' physical properties and constructing nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is an important semiconductor compound of the II–VI group, and its synthesis and properties have been of growing interest owing to prominent applications in several fields. This article provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research activities that focus on the rational synthesis, novel properties and unique applications of 1D CdSnanostructures in nanotechnology. It begins with the rational design and synthesis of 1D CdSnanostructures, and then highlights a range of unique properties and applications (e.g. photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence, electrochemiluminescence, photocatalysis, lasers, waveguides, modulators, solar cells, field-effect transistors, photodetectors, field-emitters, and nanogenerators) associated with them. Finally, the review is concluded with the author outlook of the perspectives with respect to future research on 1D CdSnanostructures.

One-dimensional CdSnanostructures: synthesis, properties, and applications

Semiconductor nanostructure arrays are of great scientific and technical interest because of the strong non-linear and electro-optic effects that occur due to carrier confinement in three dimensions. The use of such nanostructure arrays with tailored geometry, array density, and length-diameter-ratio as building blocks are expected to play a crucial role in future nanoscale devices. With the unique properties of a direct wide-bandgap semiconductor, such as the presence of polar surfaces, excellent transport properties, good thermal stability, and high electronic mobility, ZnS nanostructure arrays has been a developing material star. The research on ZnS nanostructure arrays has seen remarkable progress over the last five years due to the unique properties and important potential applications of nanostructure arrays, which are summarized here. Firstly, a survey of various methods to the synthesis of ZnS nanostructure arrays will be introduced. Next recent efforts on exploiting the unique properties and applications of ZnS nanostructure arrays are discussed. Potential future directions of this research field are also highlighted.

ZnS Nanostructure Arrays: A Developing Material Star

One-dimensional II–VI nanostructures: Synthesis, properties and optoelectronic applications

CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructures, where the CdS nanorods grow irregularly on the side surface of α-Fe2O3 nanorods, were synthesized via a three-step process The dielectric properties of the CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructure nanocomposites have been investigated The equivalent circuit model of the CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructures was established, which reasonably explained the nonlinear dielectric resonant behavior of the CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructure nanocomposites in the range of 5–15GHz The high dielectric loss is mainly attributed to the conductance loss and the dipole relaxation loss in the CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructures

Nonlinear resonant and high dielectric loss behavior of CdS∕α-Fe2O3 heterostructure nanocomposites

The authors present the results of heteroepitaxial growth of single-crystalline ZnS nanowire arrays on CdS nanoribbon substrates by the metal-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid growth method. ZnS nanowire arrays were vertically or crosswise aligned to the surface of CdS nanoribbon substrates. Room-temperature lasing from ZnS nanowire arrays was demonstrated. The present synthesis provides a new approach to the rational design of building blocks for nanodevices.

H. Wang

Papers

Heteroepitaxial growth and optical properties of ZnS nanowire arrays on CdS nanoribbons