Photophysical properties of ZnS nanoclusters

Optical measurements on ZnS nanoclusters have been carried out to investiga te surface effects along with quantum size effects. ZnS nanocrystals have b een synthesized in the range of 1.5-2.5 nm, using different chemical method s as well as electronic passivating procedures. The size of nanoparticles h as been estimated from empirical pseudopotential calculations. We have obta ined a significantly narrower size distribution of ZnS nanocrystals than re ported in earlier published results. We observed band gap luminescence in m ercaptoethanol capped ZnS nanocrystals. Effects of various defect levels on the luminescent behavior of ZnS nanoparticles have been examined (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)06623-8].