Enhanced visible light emission from Co doped ZnS nanoparticles

ZnS nanoparticles with Co²⁺ doping have been prepared at room temperature through a soft chemical route, namely the chemical co-precipitation method. The nanostructures of the prepared nanoparticles have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The sizes of as prepared nanoparticles are found to be in 1–4 nm range. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the undoped sample exhibits emission in the blue region with multiple peaks under UV excitation. On the other hand, in the Co²⁺ doped ZnS samples enhanced visible light emissions with emission intensities of ~35 times larger than that of the undoped sample are observed under the same UV excitation wavelength of 280 nm.