Photoluminescence resulting from semiconductor - Metal solid solution observed in one-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures

A narrow band photoluminescence (PL) emission peak resulting from CdS-Au solid solution was observed when growing one-dimensional nanostructures of CdS via the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism by using Au as the catalyst. This emission peak was located at 680 nm, a wavelength longer than the near band edge emission of CdS at 520 nm, and was shown not to be caused by the usual trap states of CdS which lead to a broad band emission. Here, the one-dimensional nanostructures of CdS were grown in a simple, low-temperature (360 degreesC) metal-organic chemical vapor deposition process with a single source precursor of CdS. Straight nanowires of diameter 50-70 nm and wormlike nanorods of diameter 100-200 nm were obtained. Both the upper and lower portions of the nanorods/nanowires possessed single crystallinity as judged from the corresponding high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images and selected area electron diffraction data. This work demonstrates the feasibility of adjusting PL emission peaks of optoelectronic semiconductors through alloying with metals.