DOPED ZINC-SULFIDE NANOCRYSTALS PRECIPITATED WITH A POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) MATRIX - PROCESSING AND OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Zinc sulfide nanocrystals doped with a manganese activator element wer e precipitated within a poly(ethylene oxide) polymer matrix to study t he effects of size and quantum confinement on the luminescent properti es of ZnS: Mn. Ultraviolet absorption demonstrates the increased bandg ap due to quantum confinement. Photoluminescence measurements show the characteristic Mn2+ emission from within the ZnS host crystal and pho toluminescent excitation measurements show a change in excitation whic h is indicative of the increased bandgap. These characteristics are sh own to change with growth of the particles. The growth rate of the ZnS particles is contrasted with the growth rate of CdS by calculating th e molecular diffusivity for diffusion controlled growth in each case.