Chemical synthesis and Characterization of Cu doped ZnS nanoparticles

Zn1−xCuxS nanoparticles with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 were prepared by chemical co‐precipitation from homogeneous solutions of zinc and copper salt compounds, with S2− as precipitating anion, formed by decomposition of thiophenol. XRD studies show the phase singularity of ZnS particles having zinc‐blende (cubic) structure. The XRD line broadening indicates that the average crystallite size of the particles is about 7.2 nm. Optical absorption studies indicated a slight blue shift of the fundamental absorption edge with increasing Cu2+ doping. The photoluminescence of excited at about 370 nm, showed a green emission band at 495 nm corresponding to Cu2+ luminescent centre.