Synthesis and Characterization of Semiconductor Nanomaterials and Micromaterials via Gamma-irradiation Route

In this review, we reported our recent studies on controlled growth of sulfide and oxide semiconductor nano-and micro-structures via gamma-irradiation route. NiS and PbS uniform hollow microspheres (∼500 nm) have been successfully synthesized by γ-irradiating PMMA-CS₂-ethanol aqueous solution that contains Ni²⁺ or Pb²⁺ at room temperature, respectively. Large-scale single-crystalline ZnO hexangular prisms were successfully prepared through a simple γ-irradiation approach at room temperature and under ambient pressure. CdSe hollow structures and hollow nanospheres (40∼50 nm), compass-shaped (80 nm in middle width and 200 nm in length) Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite) and monodisperse ZnS nanoballs etc. had been successfully synthesized through γ-irradiation route with different surfactant-assisted systems at room temperature. Those successful synthesis approaches in large scale and under mild conditions could be of interest for both applications and fundamental studies.