Effect of cadmium concentration on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnS nanoparticles

The present study is focused on the synthesis and characterization of the Zn 1- x Cu x S nanoparticles at x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07 that find application in optoelectronic devices. The synthesized nanoparticles were subjected to various characterizations. From the XRD profile, it was found that Zn 1- x Cu x S nanoparticles are in a cubic structure. The EDAX spectrum confirms that zinc, sulfur, and cadmium are present in stoichiometric ratios. The FE -SEM and TEM nanographs confirm the formation of spherical-shaped clusters. The crystal structure and texture of the samples were confirmed by SAED patterns. The specific surface area and pore diameter were estimated using a BET surface analyzer. The band gap of the samples was determined using Tauc's and Cody's relation, and it decreased as the Cd concentration increased. The Zn 1- x Cu x S nanoparticles exhibited photoluminescence, and emission peaks were observed in the visible region. The XPS studies confirmed the presence of dopant cadmium in the Cd 2+ ions state.