Synthesis,effect of capping agents and optical properties of manganese‐doped zinc sulphide nanoparticles

Mn²⁺‐doped ZnS nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by a chemical precipitation method, using non‐ionic surfactants such as PMMA and PEG. The particles were prepared in an air atmosphere at 80°C. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV‐visible and photoluminescence (PL) studies were used to investigate the effect of the capping agent on the size, morphology and optical properties of the ZnS–Mn²⁺ nanoparticles. Enhanced PL was observed from the surfactant‐capped ZnS–Mn²⁺ nanoparticles. The PL spectra showed a broad blue emission band in the range 460–445 nm and a Mn²⁺‐related yellow‐orange emission band in the range 581–583 nm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.