Highly luminescent CdS nanoparticles synthesized using microwave irradiation of Dithiocarbazate ligand as a single molecular precursor source

In this paper, we have reported microwave-assisted synthesis of highly luminescent cadmium sulfide nanocrystals using dithiocarbazate Cd (II) chloride complex single-molecule precursor route. The precursors were heated using microwave irradiation to obtain CdS nanocrystals. The irradiation of precursor in DMSO environment played an important role in reducing reaction time, minimizing possibility of side reactions, and resulted in obtaining good quality particles. The obtained samples were analyzed using structural, morphological, and optical characterizations. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the hexagonal crystalline phase. High-resolution electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy exhibit rod-shape structures with an average particle size of 80 nm. Sharp absorption edge at 320 nm indicates good quality of the particles. Strong luminescence peaks in the visible wavelength range 450–490 nm is observed in PL spectra. Another luminescence peak at 680 nm for excitation at 320 nm ensured the involvement of deep donor and acceptor levels in the crystals. The luminescence spectra show strong dependence on excitation wavelength which makes these particles suitable for various optoelectronic applications. The method reported here is a good candidate for obtaining large-scale high-quality CdS nanoparticles for optoelectronic applications.