Facile and large scale aqueous synthesis of CdS nanoparticles at room temperature towards optoelectronic applications

CdS nanoparticles (NPs) with high quantity and quality were successfully synthesized by co-precipitation method at air atmosphere in room temperature. The structure, morphology and optical properties of CdS NPs were investigated by x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, ultra-violet visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) studies. XRD study confirmed the formation of crystalline CdS NPs with actual size as 2.73 nm. Raman spectroscopy was used to study the confinement of optical phonons modes in CdS NPs. The electrical properties examined with current-voltage characteristics well coincide with space-charge-limited conduction mechanism of inorganic semiconductors. The synthesized CdS NPs could be a great candidate for low-cost and efficient optoelectronic applications.