Ultrasonic properties of hexagonal ZnS at nanoscale

Abstract Higher order elastic constants have been calculated in ZnS at 300 K and 500 K following the interaction potential model. Ultrasonic attenuation, velocity and other related parameters have been calculated using the higher order elastic constants for the different size of the material at 500 K. The size dependency of the ultrasonic properties is discussed in correlation with elastic, thermal and electrical properties. It has been found that the thermal conductivity is the main contributor to the behaviour of the ultrasonic attenuation as a function of the size and the responsible cause of attenuation is phonon–phonon interaction. The semiconducting nature of ZnS film has been achieved with the study of size variation of thermal relaxation time and ultrasonic attenuation.