Nanoseparation-inspired manipulation of the synthesis of CdS nanorods

CdS nanorods have been sorted by length using a density gradient ultracentrifuge rate separation method. The fractions containing longer rods showed relatively stronger oxygen-related surface trap emission, while the shorter ones had dominant band-edge emission. These results suggest that the final length distribution of CdS nanorods is not a result of random nucleation and growth, but is related to the local synthesis conditions. Inspired by these findings, different synthesis environments (N2, air, and O2) have been employed in order to tailor the length distribution. In addition to the rod length, the photoluminescence properties of CdS nanorods can also be manipulated. Increasing the oxygen partial pressure significantly changed the growth behavior of CdS nanorods by improving the anisotropic growth.