Growth mechanism and optical properties of ZnS nanotetrapods

ZnS nanotetrapods have been synthesized through the direct reaction of Zn with S via a thermal evaporation method in Ar at 800 °C without catalyst. Studies on the microstructures give experimental evidence for the growth mechanism of ZnS nanotetrapods. A zinc blende (ZB) ZnS core nucleates in the first stage during the formation of ZnS nanotetrapods; wurtzite twins based on the ZB core then form and lead to the assembly of ZnS nanotetrapod structures. Room-temperature photoluminescence properties were also examined, showing a strong green emission centered at 495.2 nm.