Simplified hydrothermal synthesis and optical properties of core-shell ZnS microspheres

Zinc acetylacetonate and thiourea are reacted in a 30:10 mixed water: glycerin solvent for 12 hours at 130 C to synthesize "core-shell" ZnS microspheres. The ZnS microspheres are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM); and selected area electron diffraction (SEAD). Ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were used in an optical study of the product. The results show that the synthesized ZnS microspheres have a diameter of 3-5 micrometers, a smooth shell surface, and an inner core structure. The existence of glycerin is crucial to the formation of spherical ZnS. no spherical particles are obtained in reaction systems without glycerin, and a decrease in glycerin content of the system reduces the yield of spherical products.