Fabrication and characterization of single-crystalline nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xS

摘要

Single-crystalline nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xS, a diluted magnetic semiconductor, was achieved via a simple vapour phase deposition on silicon substrates. Morphology, structure, and composition of the nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xS were studied by using x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xS is composed of nanowires and nanobelts, which are quite flexible and free of defects. Both of them have smooth and straight surfaces with lengths over 10 mu m. They possess cubic structure with a principal axis (111) along their axes. The nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xS exhibits paramagnetic behaviour. Photoluminescence study shows a blue band and a yellow band, which are due to the surface states and the transitions of Mn~(2+) (~4Ti (G)~(-6)Ai (S)), respectively. The growth of the nanostructured Zn_(1-x)Mn_xScould be explained by a self-catalyst growth mechanism.