Effect of anionic concentration on the structural and optical properties of nanostructured ZnS thin films

Nanostructured Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) thin films with wurtzite structure were prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis method at low temperature. The effect of sulfur concentration on the structural and optical properties of ZnS thin films was studied. The films were analysed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). Nano grain formation of ZnS was observed from XRD and SEM. Variation in band gap of different films is in agreement with size effects. But there is a red shift in the band gap of these films compared to bulk ZnS. This is due to band tailing effect experienced by the films due to the presence of large number of defects which was verified by PL spectrum. The overall emission was blue in colour for all the films and it was confirmed by Commission International d'Eclairage (CIE) diagram.