Optical properties of ZnS: Ce nanocrystals prepared by hydrothermal method

What is it about?

ZnS: Ce nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal method (200 ◦ C).The structure, morphology and optical properties of ZnS: Ce phosphor were studied. The nanocrystallite size, strain is calculated using Williamson-Hall (W–H) and Size strain plots (SSP) analysis. XRD analysis reveals that ZnS NPs are cubic blend phase. The shape and mean diameter of un- and Ce-doped NPs are demonstrated by SEM and TEM techniques to be spherical and an average diameter of about 16.0 and 9.6 nm, respectively. HRTEM and SAED studies confirm the formation of cubic structured spherical NPs. Ce-doped ZnS emitted an enhanced blue emission compared with undoped and peak position at 453 nm on excitation of 390 nm. The optical band gap is broadening from 3.25 to 3.40 eV after Ce doping. The phosphorescence lifetime of both undoped and Ce doped ZnS NPs is about 26 ms.

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