ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals synthesised by sol–gel autocombustion method

Alloyed wurtzite ZnxCd1−xS nanocrystals (NCs) have been synthesised by the newly developed sol–gel autocombustion method for the first time using zinc nitrate, cadmium nitrate and thiourea as starting materials. The structure, composition and morphology of the products were studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The composition of the alloyed NCs can be accurately adjusted by tuning the composition of the starting materials. The composition dependent optical properties of the products were investigated by ultraviolet (UV)–visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. With increasing Zn composition, a systematic blue shift was observed in both UV–visible absorption and PL spectra, indicating the homogeneous alloyed characteristics of the ZnxCd1−xS NCs and well controlled optical properties by tuning the composition of the starting materials.