Symmetry and electronic states of Mn2+ in ZnS nanowires with mixed hexagonal and cubic stacking

Electron spin resonance and electronic spectroscopy techniques were used to study the symmetry and electronic structure of Mn2+ dopants in solvothermally synthesized ZnS nanowires. The average diameter of similar to 5 nm leads to the observable quantum confinement effects in the photoluminescence excitation spectra. The results clearly demonstrate the three symmetry locations of Mn2+ incorporation. Together with the inferred Mn2+ center densities, these data indicate a much higher efficiency of Mn2+ substitution in the nanowire sample with about two times larger diameter. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3475017]