Structural and optical properties of ZnS nanowires and CdS nanorods synthesized by a two-step solvothermal method

ZnS nanowires and CdS nanorods can be synthesized by a two-step solvothermal method. Experiments indicate that the ZnS nanowires (diameter ∼100 nm and length 1520 m) and CdS nanorods (diameter ∼20 nm and length ∼200 nm) obtained by this method have uniform morphologies and high yield. X-Ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize them. Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis were performed to study the composition and thermal stabilization of the precursors. The possible formation mechanism and the UV-vis absorption and photoluminescent spectra were also studied.