Synthesis of CdS and ZnS Nanowires Using Single-Source Molecular Precursors

Single-source molecular precursors were used to synthesize II-VI compound semiconductor nanowires for the first time. Cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide nanowires were prepared using cadmium diethyldithiocarbamate, Cd(S2CNEt2)2, and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, Zn(S2CNEt2)2, respectively, as precursors in a gold nanocluster-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid growth process. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies show that the CdS and ZnS nanowires are single-crystal wurtzite structures with stoichiometric compositions. In addition, photoluminescence measurements demonstrate that these nanowires exhibit high-quality optical properties. The applicability of our approach to the synthesis of other compound and alloy semiconductors nanowires as well as nanowire heterostructures of these materials is discussed.