Synthesis of Cd1-xZnxS nanoparticles by a novel thermal decomposition approach and studies on their optical properties

Cd1-xZnxS nanoparticles (x = 0-1.0) have been synthesized via a facile thermal decomposition approach using cadmium acetate, zinc acetate and thiourea at 200 A degrees C in diphenyl ether. The structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of the Cd1-xZnxS nanoparticles have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Solid solutions are formed at lower concentration of zinc (x a parts per thousand currency sign 0.6) while phase separation occurs at higher concentration of zinc (x > 0.6) The crystallite size of Cd1-xZnxS nanoparticles lies in the range 3.9-5 nm and the energy dispersive X-ray analysis reveals uniform distribution of zinc, cadmium and sulfur in the solid solutions. The band gap of Cd1-xZnxS nanoparticles is tunable and the band gap varies from 2.36 to 2.99 eV.