Carbon-coated single-crystalline zinc sulfide nanowires

Single-crystalline ZnS nanowires coated with graphitic carbon shells were synthesized by thermal evaporation of a mixture of ZnS and SnS powders in a graphite crucible. As-synthesized ZnS/C nanostructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. The ZnS core nanowires were formed by a Sn-catalytic vapor-liquid-solid process and grew along the 210] directions. Photoluminescence spectrum reveals that the carbon-coated ZnS nanowires have a strong emission band centered at 586 nm and a shoulder band at 645 nm.