Nanometre to micrometre wide ZnS nanoribbons

ZnS nanoribbons with variable widths ranging from a few nanometres to micrometre order have been fabricated in a controlled way. The ultra-long nanoribbons were single crystalline, smooth and uniform throughout their lengths. Growth of the nanoribbons was initiated by the vapour-liquid-solid process and subsequently their widths were regulated by the influence of the vapour-solid process. These nanoribbons possessed a bulk-like bandgap as determined from the optical absorption spectra. Room temperature photoluminescence was observed in the UV-visible region from the ZnS nanoribbons with the emission peaks at 398 and 458 nm attributed to the transitions from the sulfur vacancy related defect states and surface states respectively.