One-pot synthesis of ZnxCd1-xS nanoparticles with nano-twin structure

Recently, constructing nano-twin structure in ZnxCd1-xS nanocrystals have been reported as an efficient way to improve separation of electron/hole pairs during transport in photocatalyst. Most of the nanocrystals with nano-twin structures are synthesized by hydrothermal routine, in which the high pressure inside autoclave may bring potential safety issues. At this work, we present an autoclave free one-pot colloidal synthesis routine to introduce nano-twin structure into Zn0.6Cd0.4S nanoparticles (NPs) using thiourea-metal complex gels. HRTEM analysis, ESR spectra, EIS test, and H-2 evolution experiment confirm the formation of nano-twin structures in the Zn0.6Cd0.4S NPs. A series of ZnxCd1-xS NPs (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) are also synthesized by the same method to study the influence of the Zn/Cd composition on the formation of nano-twin structure. The ESR spectra, EIS tests and H-2 evolution experiments under visible and ultraviolet light show that nano-twin structure only exist in x = 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ZnxCd1-xS NPs, and the concentration of the nano-twin structure is as the sequence as x = 0.6 > x = 0.4 > x = 0.8.