Synthesis of Eu+3 doped ZnS nanoparticles by a wet chemical route and its characterization

Abstract ZnS:Eu nanocrystals were synthesized through an aqueous chemical route using triethanolamine as complexing agent. The powder samples have been characterized systematically using a number of characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance (DR), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The formation of ultrafine and spherical nanoparticles with size less than 5 nm was confirmed by XRD and HRTEM analysis. The band gap of ZnS:Eu was slightly red shifted with increasing the concentration of Eu +3 dopant ions. While red PL emissions were observed due to intra-4 f transitions of Eu +3 ions under excitation with 374 nm laser, no characteristic red emission related to 5 D 0 – 7 F j ( j  = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transition of Eu +3 was observed when excited with a wavelength of 325 nm.