Cadmium sulfide one-dimensional nanostructures: Synthesis, characterization and application

With the current need for the advancement of the nanotechnology and nanoscience, it is a challenge for the scientific community to develop technologically important nanomaterials with tailored size and shape with a view to enhance or tune their fundamental physical and chemical properties, which could be useful for the fabrication of nano-scale devices. Cadmium sulfide is a widely studied material for its wide range of applications in field of photonics, optoelectronics and photovoltaics etc. Keeping in mind the recent interest of the 1-D nanomaterials this article reviews different aspects of the synthesis, characterization and application of CdS 1-D nanomaterials. Different synthesis techniques ranging from simple wet chemical route, solvothermal routes, catalytic and non-catalytic thermal evaporation routes etc. are discussed in detail for the fabrication of various kinds of 1-D CdS nanostructures. Fundamental properties such as optical absorption, photoluminescence, Raman spectroscopic studies, electrical properties, and photoconducting properties are also discussed here. Applicability of these various 1-D nanoforms of CdS in the fields of laser, thin film transistor, photonic circuit element, etc. are discussed.