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Sonocatalysis has attracted excellent research attention to eradicate hazardous pollutants from the environment effectively. This work synthesised an organic/inorganic hybrid composite catalyst by coupling Fe 3 O 4 @MIL-100(Fe) (FM) with ZnS nanoparticles using the solvothermal evaporation method. Remarkably, the composite material delivered significantly enhanced sonocatalytic efficiency for removing tetracycline (TC) antibiotics in the presence of H 2 O 2 compared to bare ZnS nanoparticles. By adjusting different parameters such as TC concentration, catalyst dosage and H 2 O 2 amount, the optimized composite (20 %Fe 3 O 4 @MIL-100(Fe)/ZnS) removed 78.25% antibiotic in 20 min at the cost of 1 mL of H 2 O 2 . These much superior activities are attributed to the efficient interface contact, effective charge transfer, accelerated transport capabilities and strong redox potential for the superior acoustic catalytic performance of FM/ZnS composite systems. Based on various characterization, free radical capture experiments and energy band structures, we proposed a mechanism for the sonocatalytic degradation of tetracycline based on S-scheme heterojunctions and Fenton like reactions. This work will provide an important reference for developing ZnS-based nanomaterials to study sonodegradation of pollutants., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nanosized zinc sulfides (nano-ZnS) have size-dependent and tunable physical and chemical properties that make them useful for a variety of technological applications. For example, structural changes, especially caused by strain, are pronounced in nano-ZnS < 5 nm in size, the size range typical of incidental nano-ZnS that form in the environment. Previous research has shown how natural organic matter impacts the physical properties of nano-ZnS but was mostly focused on their aggregation state. However, the specific organic molecules and the type of functional groups that are most important for controlling the nano-ZnS size and strain remain unclear. This study examined the size-dependent strain of nano-ZnS synthesized in the presence of serine, cysteine, glutathione, histidine, and acetate. Synchrotron total scattering pair distribution function analysis was used to determine the average crystallite size and strain. Among the different organic molecules tested, those containing a thiol group were shown to affect the particle size and size-induced strain most strongly when added during synthesis but significantly reduced the particle strain when added to as-formed nano-ZnS. The same effects are useful to understand the properties and behavior of natural nano-ZnS formed as products of microbial activity, for example, in reducing environments, or of incidental nano-ZnS formed in organic wastes.

The room-temperature controlled crystallization of monodispersed ZnS nanoparticles (average size of 5 nm) doped with luminescent ions (such as Mn 2+ , Eu 3+ , Sm 3+ , Nd 3+ , and Yb 3+ ) was achieved via a microfluidic approach. The preparation did not require any stabilizing ligands or surfactants, minimizing potential sources of impurities. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized from a structural (XRD and XAS at lanthanide L 3 edges), morphological (TEM), and compositional (XPS, ICP-MS) perspective, giving complementary information on the materials' features. In view of potential applications in the field of optical bioimaging, the optical emission properties of the doped nanoparticles were assessed, and samples showed strong luminescent properties while being less affected by self-quenching mechanisms. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxicity experiments were conducted, showing no negative effects and evidencing the appeal of the synthesized materials for potential applications in the field of optical bioimaging.

The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc sulfide nanoparticles (ZnS NPs) on the toxicity of sewage sludges in sewage sludge-amended soils was investigated with respect to plant- (Lepidium sativum) and soil- (Folsomia candida) species. The toxicity of porewater obtained from the tested soils towards Vibrio fischeri (Microtox®) was also investigated. Two sewage sludges (SSL1 and SSL2) with different organic matter content were amended with nanoparticles. Depending on the type of biotest and the type of sewage sludge, different effects of ZnO or ZnS NPs on the toxicity of sewage sludge-amended soil were observed. In general, ZnO and ZnS NPs stimulated root growth for SSL1 or reduced the harmful impact of SSL2 on the root growth of L. sativum roots. Greater stimulation or inhibition of root growth was observed for the ZnO than ZnS NPs. The unfavorable effect of ZnO/ZnS NPs on F. candida mortality and reproduction was observed at a concentration of ZnO/ZnS in sewage sludge ≥250 mg/kg. Generally, there were no significant differences between ZnO and ZnS NPs toxicity towards F. candida. Aging for 45 days of sewage sludge-amended soil containing NPs affected ZnO and ZnS NPs toxicity to all tested organisms. In the most cases, the toxicity decreased after 45 days of aging for plant (L. sativum) and invertebrates (F. candida). The toxicity of porewater to V. fischeri from sewage sludge-amended soil contains ZnO NPs did not change, while in the case of ZnS NPs, the toxicity increased after 45 days of aging., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogen generation from biomass reforming via solar energy utilisation has become a fascinating strategy toward future energy sustainability. In this study, ZnS nanoparticles with an average size around 10-15 nm were synthesised by a facile hydrothermal method, and then hybridised with g-C 3 N 4 (MCN, DCN, and UCN) derived from melamine, dicyandiamide and urea, producing the heterojunctions denoted as ZMCN, ZDCN and ZUCN, respectively. Advanced characterisations were employed to investigate the physiochemical properties of the materials. ZMCN and ZDCN showed a slight red shift and better light absorbance ability. Their catalytic performances were evaluated by photocatalytic biomass reforming for hydrogen generation. The hydrogen generation rate on ZMCN, the best photocatalyst among MCN, DCN, UCN, ZDCN and ZUCN, was around 2.5 times higher than the pristine MCN. However, the photocatalytic efficiency of ZUCN experienced decrease of 36.6% compared to pure UCN. The mechanism of the photocatalytic reforming process was discussed. The photoluminescence spectra of ZMCN suggested that the introduction of ZnS for ZMCN would reduce the recombination of photoinduced carriers. It was also found that both microstructure and band structure would influence the photocatalytic reforming efficiency., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, ZnS nanoparticles deposited on montmorillonite (ZnS-MMT) were prepared by a facile method at room temperature and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy-dispersive X-ray Detector (EDX) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Significantly, the as-prepared ZnS-MMT nanocomposites have been proven to possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity that can rapidly catalyze the reaction of peroxidase substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 and produce a blue color product in less than 30 seconds, which provides a sensitive colorimetric sensor to detect H2O2. Due to the synergistic effects between montmorillonite and ZnS nanoparticles, the obtained ZnS-MMT nanocomposites exhibit higher catalytic activity than that of MMT or ZnS alone. The catalytic behaviors of the ZnS-MMT nanocomposites showed a typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The catalytic activity and the catalytic mechanism were investigated using the procedures of steady-state kinetics and hydroxyl radical detection. ESR data revealed that the peroxidase-like activity of ZnS-MMT originated from the generation of OH radicals., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes, [ML(1)2L(2)] (M=Cd(II), Zn(II); L(1)=N-phenyldithiocarbamate, L(2)=2,2' bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterised. The decomposition of these complexes to metal sulphides has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The complexes were used as single-source precursors to synthesize MS (M=Zn, Cd) nanoparticles (NPs) passivated by hexadecyl amine (HDA). The growth of the nanoparticles was carried out at two different temperatures: 180 and 220 °C, and the optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission emission microscopy (TEM) and powdered X-ray diffraction (p-XRD). Nanoparticles, whose average diameters are 2.90 and 3.54 nm for ZnS, and 8.96 and 9.76 nm for CdS grown at 180 and 220 °C respectively, were obtained., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Current study aims at synthesising Eu-doped ZnS nanoparticles by sol-gel co-precipitation and then characterising them for their structural, optical, and morphological features. Eu-doped ZnS NPs with doping levels of 1, 3, 5, and 7 at.% were synthesised. The characterisation tools such as XRD, UV-Vis, FTIR, photoluminescence and FESEM were employed to analyse their properties. Zinc blend phase with particle sizes lying in the range of 5.0 to 7.2 nm was confirmed by XRD. Eu-doped ZnS NPs show a band gap decrement at a higher level of doping. Defects induced UV and visible emission peaks were observed in photoluminescence emission spectra. Random-shaped particle-like structures that effectively have a persistent enlargement of size were seen in FESEM. The particle size was seen to monitor the band gap at higher doping levels. Eu doping was found to promote the growth of particle sizes which eventually resulted in decrement of the band gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, fabrication of pure and cobalt (Co) doped zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were carried out via facile co-precipitation technique using thioglycolic acid as a surfactant. The synthesized nano powders were employed to characterize using various techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy, to elucidate the alterations in the structure and morphology of nanomaterials. The XRD analysis revealed wurtzite phase of fabricated nanoparticles. Inclusion of Co dopants failed to modify the lattice structure of host material. Analysis of UV–Vis spectroscopy indicates intensive absorption in the visible region upon doping. FTIR spectroscopy was employed to identify functional groups affiliated with molecular vibrations. The photoactivity and kinetics of photo-products were evaluated by monitoring degradation of methylene blue (MB) by solar irradiation. Photodecomposition of MB was significantly increased when Co doped ZnS was employed relative to pristine ZnS. This novel technique of doped ZnS nanoparticles provide an effectual and sustainable route for treatment of wastewater.

In this work influence of capping and doping on the optical properties of the ZnS nanoparticles is studied. The Tinospora cordifolia was used as a capping agent and silver as a dopant for ZnS. The structural studies were carried out for phase identification and optical studies such as absorption and photoluminescence to check the influence of capping and doping. The shift in absorption edge and reduced photoluminescence intensity for these samples confirmed the interaction of capping and doping agents with the ZnS matrix. The presence of impurity phase-related to modified silver confirmed the presence of silver. These samples were further used for photocatalytic studies but observed low degradation efficiency due to poor interaction between the modified ZnS surface and dye molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize the use of ZnS low-dimensional nanoparticles as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes, this work describes a simple one-pot synthesis method for producing a cluster of these particles. The ZnS nanoparticles fabricated in this work exhibit a cluster with unique low-dimensional (0D, 1D, and 2D) characteristics. Structural, morphological, and electrochemical investigations are all part of the thorough characterization of the produced materials. An X-ray diffraction pattern of clustered ZnS nanoparticles reflects the phase formation with highly stable cubic blende sphalerite polymorph. The confirmation of nanoparticle cluster formation featuring multiple low-dimensional nanostructures was achieved through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), while the internal structure was assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Systematically assessing the ZnS nanoparticles' electrochemical performance reveals their prospective qualities as supercapacitor electrode materials. The electrode assembled with this material on Ni foam demonstrates elevated specific capacitance (areal capacitance) values, reaching 716.8 F.g⁻1 (2150.4 mF.cm−2) at a current density of 3 mA.cm⁻2. Moreover, it reflects 69.1% capacitance retention with a four times increase in current density, i.e., 495.5 F.g−1 (1486.56 mF.cm−2) capacitance was archived at 12 mA.cm−2 with 100% Coulombic efficiency. Furthermore, the electrode exhibits prolonged cycling capability with 77.7% capacitance retention, as evidenced by its charge–discharge measurements sustained over 15,000 cycles at a current density of 25 mA cm⁻2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnS nanoparticles doped with Tb3+ ions and ZnS doped silica glass-ceramic were synthesized by sol–gel method. The density, refractive index and various physical properties were calculated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies confirm the formation of hexagonal polycrystalline structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses revealed that variation in size of the particles lies between 10 to 50 nm. FTIR were used to examine the structural characteristics of prepared glass samples at specific annealing temperatures. The band gap energy of the as-synthesized nanocomposite glass was 3.18 eV with a green light emission. The influence of ZnS nanoparticles on Tb3+ ions doped glass was studies by photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The PL emission intensity increased with the concentrations of ZnS. The CIE chromaticity revealed that the tunability of color changes from blue-green to yellowish green region as ZnS concentration increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that doping zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles with Mn or Cu ions significantly affects their luminescent properties. Herein, we investigated how dopant atoms are incorporated into the structure of ZnS using X-ray diffraction and multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The observed broadening of the X-ray diffraction patterns indicates an average crystallite size of about 6 nm. By analyzing the Zn, Mn, and Cu K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra using the reverse Monte Carlo method, we were able to determine the relaxations of the local environments around the dopants. Our findings suggested that upon the substitution of Zn by Mn or Cu ions, there is a shortening of the Cu–S bonds by 0.08 Å, whereas the Mn–S bonds exhibited lengthening by 0.07 Å. These experimental results were further confirmed by first-principles density functional theory calculations, which explained the increase in the Mn–S bond lengths due to the high-spin state of Mn 2 + ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis, characterization and evaluation of nanoscale zinc sulfide (ZnS) by precipitation chemical method. The zinc sulfide nanoparticles were prepared by chemical precipitation method using heterocyclic polyvinyl alcohol, PVA as a sensitizer. The prepared heterocyclic compounds system ZnS nanoparticles, PVA, EG were used as anti-bacterial corrosion towards sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and anti-corrosion for carbon steel substrate in sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide bacterial corrosive environment using chemical, analytical, and electrochemical techniques. Effect of adding PVA, and ethylene glycol, EG to ZnS nanoparticles were studied. Effect of ZnS nanoparticles concentrations and the reaction temperature on the corrosion inhibition efficiency were studied. The inhibition due to adsorption of nanoparticles on steel surface, the adsorption agree well with Langmuir isotherm with suggested chemical adsorption mechanism. Potentiodynamic polarization (PD) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data explain that the used inhibitor is mixed-type and improves polarization resistance and inhibition performance by adhering to metal/electrolyte interface. The cathodic and anodic reactions are delayed when inhibitor molecules are added to an aggressive medium, which results in a negative shift in the open circuit potential. Addition of both PVA, and EG as organic polyol materials enhance the adsorption and inhibition properties of zinc sulfide nanoparticles on steel surface.

Green synthesis, characterization and evaluation of nanoscale zinc sulfide (ZnS) by precipitation chemical method. The zinc sulfide nanoparticles were prepared by chemical precipitation method using heterocyclic polyvinyl alcohol, PVA as a sensitizer. The prepared heterocyclic compounds system ZnS nanoparticles, PVA, EG were used as anti-bacterial corrosion towards sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and anti-corrosion for carbon steel substrate in sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide bacterial corrosive environment using chemical, analytical, and electrochemical techniques. Effect of adding PVA, and ethylene glycol, EG to ZnS nanoparticles were studied. Effect of ZnS nanoparticles concentrations and the reaction temperature on the corrosion inhibition efficiency were studied. The inhibition due to adsorption of nanoparticles on steel surface, the adsorption agree well with Langmuir isotherm with suggested chemical adsorption mechanism. Potentiodynamic polarization (PD) and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data explain that the used inhibitor is mixed-type and improves polarization resistance and inhibition performance by adhering to metal/electrolyte interface. The cathodic and anodic reactions are delayed when inhibitor molecules are added to an aggressive medium, which results in a negative shift in the open circuit potential. Addition of both PVA, and EG as organic polyol materials enhance the adsorption and inhibition properties of zinc sulfide nanoparticles on steel surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure and Yb3+-doped ZnS (YbxZn1−xS) nanoparticles were prepared in this research via hydrothermal route at 160 °C and 12 h. The obtained products were characterized by means of Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). XRPD analyses displayed that the particles were perfectly crystallized and assigned to the cubic structure of zinc sulfide. TEM and SEM images indicated that the sizes of particles were in the range of 10-80nm.The photocatalytic performance of Yb3+-doped ZnS nanoparticles was assessed in an aqueous solution by observing the decolorization of Tartrazine (Yellow 5) in the process of visible-light radiation. The degradation percent of Yb0.06Zn0.94S and bare ZnS was 92.15 and 22.10% after 100 min of treatment, respectively. 6% Yb3+-doped ZnS nanoparticles demonstrated the highest removal efficiency between various values of dopant agent. It was noticed that the existence of inorganic ions like C2O42−, I−and other radical scavengers like benzoquinone and butanol decreased the decolorization efficiency.

[Display omitted] • Facile chemical confinement strategy is proposed to alleviate volume change of Ge. • Ge nanoparticle is encapsulated within ZnS shell and N-doped carbon layer. • Ex-situ experiments demonstrate the suppressed volume changes of Ge. • In-situ experiments reveal the high electrode reversibility of Ge. • The anode shows stable long-cycle performance and excellent rate performance. Germanium (Ge) anode shows great promise in overcoming unsatisfied capacity and dendrite formation concerns facing conventional graphite anodes in next generation lithium ion batteries. However, volume changes during repeated alloying and de-alloying cycles seriously impair structural stability and cycle lifespan. In this work, a facile chemical confinement strategy has been firstly proposed to alleviate volume changes of Ge anode. Benefited from strong binding interaction between Ge and ZnS, discrete Ge nanoparticle can be successfully encapsulated within thin protective ZnS shell and N-doped carbon layer (Ge-ZnS@N-C) after two-step carbonization and sulfurization of polydopamine-coating Zn 2 GeO 4 nanorod precursors. In contrast, bulk Ge aggregates and hollow N-doped carbon nanotubes can be formed without chemical confinement of ZnS. The as-prepared Ge-ZnS@N-C sample displays multifold structural merits, including nanosized Ge particles with highly electrochemical activity, sufficient pores and functional groups that facilitate ion diffusion. Besides, protective ZnS shell and N-doped carbon layer can suppress volume changes of Ge nanoparticles and guarantee high electrode reversibility, demonstrated by a series of in-situ and ex-situ experiments. The as-synthesized Ge-ZnS@N-C anodes exhibit stable long-cycle performance (1389.7 mAh/g after 450 cycles at a current density of 0.5 A/g) and excellent rate performance (548.5 and 397.8 mAh/g at 5.0 and 8.0 A/g, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were fabricated using the chemical precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were used to investigate the structural parameters of the formed ZnS. The hexagonal crystal structure of the Zn and ZnS phases was formed. The average crystallite size of the ZnS phase is 10.3 nm, which is much smaller than that of the Zn phase (54.5 nm). Several frequencies and phonon modes were detected in the Raman scattering spectrum belonging to the ZnS nanoparticles. The synthesized ZnS nanoparticles were used as catalysts to eliminate the Congo red (CR) dye, with different concentrations, from synthetic wastewater. The impact of the CR dye concentration and shaking period on the adsorption of CR was thoroughly investigated, and various adsorption kinetic models were tested. After 3 h of shaking, the adsorption efficiency reached 26.01% for 40 mg/L CR dye and 27.84% for 20 mg/L CR dye. The adsorption capacities of the CR dye in the presence of ZnS are 16% and 9% for 40 and 20 mg/L, respectively. Based on the correlation factor, the intraparticle diffusion kinetic model was considered the best of the tested models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the preparation, morphological and photocatalytic studies of zinc sulfide nanoparticles from zinc(II) dithiocarbamate precursors. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns were index to the wurtzite crystalline phase of zinc sulfide while transmission electron microscopy micrographs revealed spherically shaped particles with sizes in the range 2.8 to 5.2 nm. The ZnS nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue with degradation efficiency of 71.41% for ZnS1 and 85.95% for ZnS2 nanoparticles at pH 9.43. The effect of catalyst concentration, pH, radical scavengers, and hole (h+) scavengers on the photodegradation of methylene blue dye were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effect of Al-doping on the physical properties of ZnS thin films. The pulsed-laser deposition technique was used to prepare ZnS and Al-doped ZnS (AZS) thin films on soda-lime glass slides. The Al concentration of 0-6% was used. Further, XRD spectroscopy was employed to confirm the structures of the ZnS and AZS films, following which the values of parameters such as crystal plane spacing, crystallite grain size, microstrain, and dislocation density were calculated. Regarding ZnS, the result showed a broad pattern corresponding to the (111) plane of ZnS. There was a variation of 0.313-0.316 nm in the d-spacing, which decreased as the concentration of Al in the ZnS films increased. The crystallite size was found to be 0.80-671.24 nm. Notably, the crystallite size was affected by the Al concentration. The change in the a aluminum content from 0 to 8% make change in thee strain increase from 0.00046 to 0.0031. Also, as the Al-doping increased, the dislocation-density reduced from 1.54 to 0.00000221 mg.cm-3. The values obtained in this work were consistent with published standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant. As prepared ZnS nanoparticles have broad emission centered at 457 nm with full width at the half maxima (FWHM) of 113 nm excited at 357 nm, band gap of 3.89 eV, dielectric constant of 4.47 and dielectric loss of 2.40×104, indicating a potential application on light emitting diodes. The influences of CTAB on the structure, optical and electrical properties were investigated systematically at the content range from 0 wt% to 9 wt%. The results show that the proper content of CTAB were absorbed and capped on the surface of ZnS nanoparticles, which reduced the nonradiative defects and increased the zinc vacancies. when the content of CTAB increases from 0 wt% to 7 wt%, the structure of lattice volume, lattice constant and average crystallite size decrease, the optical property of emission intensity enhances, the electrical property of band gap increase, and the electrical properties of dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic semiconducting ZnS doped with Cr nanoparticles was fabricated using chemical co-precipitation method with monothioethylene glycol as capping agent. This study is an effort to investigate as to how various concentration ratios of systematically doped Cr (1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%) to ZnS affect structural, optical, and morphological properties at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that crystallinity improved upon doping and the synthesized material has cubic structure without secondary phase. XRD and Raman spectra showed successful incorporation of Cr3+ particles into ZnS host lattice. The functional groups and chemical species associated with vibration of molecules were determined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) images showed nanoscale particles with cubic and spherical morphology. Elemental composition of Cr-ZnS particles was determined using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Kinetics of degradation of methylene blue (MB) catalyzed via synthesized nanoparticles was recorded under UV–Vis irradiation. The antimicrobial evaluation of Cr-doped ZnS nanocomposites against MDR S. aureus showed significant (p < 0.05) inhibition zones compared to undoped ZnS. The catalytic activity results indicate that ZnS is an efficient nanocatalyst that could be effectively used for the removal of environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of significant academic value to find a new type of eco-friendly photocatalyst with high-efficiency, low-cost, which can be applied to the photocatalytic synthesis of N 2 /H 2 O to ammonia. In this paper, pitch-based graphene oxide (GO) is obtained by using petroleum pitch as a carbon source (Hummers Method). Then, the ZnS nanoparticles were loaded onto the pitch-based GO sheet to get the composite photocatalyst ZnS/GO of different GO contents (Hydrothermal Method). The performance of ZnS/GO photocatalytic synthesis of N 2 /H 2 O to ammonia was studied while characterizing the material structure and photoelectric properties. The results showed a similar structure and performance with general graphite-based GO. The presence of GO structure not only enables the composite catalyst to enhance electron transfer by inhibiting the recombination of the photogenerated electrons and holes pairs, but also improves activation and adsorption N 2 properties and photocatalytic ammonia synthesis with N 2 /H 2 O performance. The NH4+ yield was 910.6 μmol/L·g cat after 6 h photocatalytic reaction, which was about five times of NH4+ yields on pure ZnS as a photocatalyst under the same conditions. Unlabelled Image • Pitch-based graphene oxide (GO) is prepared by a modified Hummers method. • ZnS/GO with different GO contents is synthesized by hydrothermal method. • The performance of ZnS/GO photocatalytic synthesis of N 2 /H 2 O to ammonia was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by refluxing of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and CH3CSNH2 as zinc and sulfur sources in ethylene glycol at 60-100 °C for 2-6 h. Phase, atomic vibration and morphology of ZnS products were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that all the as-synthesized samples are cubic ZnS nanoparticles with different orientations. The particle size of ZnS nanoparticles is controlled by the reaction time and temperature. The photocatalytic degradation of as-synthesized ZnS nanoparticles was investigated through photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under UV light irradiation. According to the photocatalytic results, ZnS nanoparticles synthesized by refluxing method at 100 °C for 6 h have the highest photocatalytic degradation of 96.73% for MB and 94.68% for MO under UV radiation within 120 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondrosarcoma is the second‐most malignant cancer of the bone and routine treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not responded to the treatment of this cancer. Due to the resistance of chondrosarcoma to radiotherapy, the combination of therapeutic methods has been considered in recent years. In this study, a novel combination approach is used that allows photodynamic therapy to be activated by X‐rays. The synthesis of Mn‐doped zinc sulphide (ZnS) quantum dots was carried out and chlorin e6 photosensitiser attached by covalent and non‐covalent methods and their application as an intracellular light source for photodynamic activation was investigated. The toxicity of each nanoparticles was evaluated on chondrosarcoma cancer cells (SW1353) before and after radiation. Also, the effect nanoparticle‐photosensitiser conjugated type was investigated in the therapeutic efficacy. The characterisation test (SEM, TEM, EDS, TGA, XRD and ICP analyses) was shown successful synthesis of Mn‐doped ZnS quantum dots. Chondrosarcoma cancer cell viability was significantly reduced when cells were treated with MPA‐capped Mn‐doped ZnS quantum dots‐chlorin e6 with spermine linker and with covalent attachment (P ≤ 0.001). These results indicate that X‐ray can activate the quantum dot complexes for cancer treatment, which can be a novel method for treatment of chondrosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Seeking highly-efficient and cost-effective photocatalyst remains key to boosting photocatalytic H 2 evolution activity. Herein we have designed an innovative, non-heavy-metal-based hybrid photocatalyst via in-situ decoration of ZnS nanoparticles with Ti 3 C 2 MXene nanosheets toward enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production. The incorporation of Ti 3 C 2 essentially promotes the charge transfer and extends the lifetime of photo-induced carriers, thereby resulting in an augmented H 2 production yield of 502.6 μmol g−1 h−1 under optimal conditions, being almost 4-fold higher than pure ZnS (124.6 μmol g−1 h−1). Thus, this work has demonstrated ZnS/MXene photocatalytic as a promising candidate for hydrogen generation to boost the entire clean energy system and provided a new insight into further broadening the water splitting application of MXene-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to Mie resonance-based dielectric metamaterials. Here, we report a ZnS nanoparticles-based dielectric metamaterials. The permittivity of ground state and excited state of ZnS were calculated by Materials Studio, and the obtained permittivity was used to simulate the light transmission characteristics of ZnS nanoparticles-based Mie metamaterials. ZnS nanoparticles were prepared by solid reaction process, which were dispersed into alcohol solution to get Mie resonance-based metamaterials. The transmission characteristics were measured by UV–Vis spectrophotometer. There is resonance peak both in simulation and experiment and the different electromagnetic response in ground state and excited state indicates that tunable Mie resonance-based metamaterials were fabricated. This work demonstrates the feasibility of fabrication of tunable dielectric metamaterials at optics frequencies which can be used as sensors with chemical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract ZnS quantum dots are semiconductor nanoparticles characterized by superior optoelectronic properties. The amenability of these nanoparticles in initiating efficient photo-redox reactions enable their use as photocatalysts for environmental remediation. In the present study, ZnS quantum dots were biosynthesized from Zn tolerant Penicillium sp. under ambient reaction conditions. The biogenic ZnS quantum dots were characterized using TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR and UV–Vis absorption studies that revealed the formation of spherical particles of average diameter 11.08 nm with a zinc blend crystal structure and the optical properties were in par with chemically synthesized ZnS. The biogenic ZnS were then used for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. It was found that the green synthesized ZnS quantum dots exhibited good photocatalytic activity with a half-life of 4 h. Further, the dye degradation efficiency was enhanced as the ZnS nanocatalyst/dye ratio increased and reached equilibrium within 6 h. The present study reports an inexpensive and scalable method to fabricate ZnS nano hybrids with practical applicability in the remediation of pollutants in textile, paper and dyeing industry. Graphical abstract fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite of useful applications of Ag, it is hazardous to health and environment and hence early detection is required. Crystal defects influencing optical property is less likely utilized for Ag detection using prevalent UV–vis technique. Quantum dots (QDs) ZnS prepared by soft chemical route are exploited for the detection of Ag + in aqueous solution for nM to mM concentrations. UV–vis and photoluminescence (PL) measurements reveal quantum confinement effect and presence of defects in ZnS nanoparticles (NPs). Controlled synthesis of ZnS NPs allows appearance of defects related peak at 400–550 nm in UV–vis spectra. A plausible mechanism is presented and elucidated by XRD and PL studies for chemical interaction between ZnS with Ag + . The interaction affects prominently the defects related absorption of ZnS NPs and allows single step Ag + detection in aqueous medium. This absorption method is extended to other ions (Na + , K + , Mg + , Ca + , Ba + ) including ‘S’ prone heavy and toxic ions like Pb, Hg, and Cd. Among them, Ag + shows the best response with ZnS NPs. This demonstration using a portable and cost effective technique with no organic component opens up possibility for other inorganic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Herein, ZnS nanoparticles on Nitrogen (N) and Sulphur (S) co-doped carbon nanosheets (ZnS@NSC) are prepared through a highly efficient sol-gel synthesis. Interestingly, the ZnS nanoparticles are encapsulated in ultrathin carbon shells, which are crucial to buffer the volume changes of ZnS during sodium ion intercalation/de-intercalation. Meanwhile, the nanosheets and ultrafine carbon shells together constitute the N, S co-doped carbon framework, which not only can give rise to abundant active sites for sodium storage but also greatly enhance the electrical conductivity. As a result, the ZnS@NSC achieves a reversible capacity of 734 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability (73.6% capacity retention after 380 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • ZnS nanoparticles embedded in N, S codoped carbon framework are prepared for SIBs. • An efficient one-pot sol-gel synthesis is developed. • Ultrafine carbon shell is observed on ZnS nanoparticles. • The as-prepared electrode can last for 380 cycles with 73.6% capacity retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles have been synthesized using a wet chemical method. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit a zinc blende structure with the crystallite size of 3.8 nm. The morphological and optical studies of the synthesized nanoparticles have been performed. It is found that the band gap varies from 3.6 to 4.4 eV depending upon the concentration of copper. The room temperature photoluminescence of the synthesized nanoparticles has been also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly photoactive merocyanine 540 is revealed to form charge transfer complex with zinc sulphide and cadmium sulphide nanocrystals confirmed by FT-IR Spectroscopy, Fluorescence emission and UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The semiconducting nanocrystals were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by Fluorescence emission spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray spectroscopy and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). Merocyanine, in different concentrations was chemisorbed on the surface of ZnS and CdS nanomaterial. ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were used in hybrid solar cells in combination with organic polymer. These cells performed good efficiency at (6 × 10 −6  M) dye concentration. The decreased power conversion efficiency with short circuit current density below and above the optimal merocyanine concentration (6 × 10 −6  M) may be due to aggregation of merocyanine dye on CdS nanocrystals and subsequent self-quenching phenomena among dye molecules. The power conversion efficiency of the devices fabricated from P3HT-CdS-MC540 was higher than devices fabricated from P3HT-ZnS-MC540 because of particle size effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic performance of hybrid devices consisting of zinc sulphide (ZnS) one-dimensional (1D) nanowires and P3HT polymer was studied. As we previously reported, hybrid solar cell architecture based on ZnS, where open circuit voltage reaches high value, deserves special attention. In this work, compared to our previous research, zero-dimensional (0D) ZnS nanoparticles were replaced by one-dimensional (1D) ZnS nanowires synthesized simply with a hot injection method. In order to improve the charge transport in hybrid solar cells, additionally, the initial ligand of octadecylamine (ODA) was partially replaced by the o-phenylenediamine. The as-synthesized products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The performance of the devices significantly depended on the concentration of one-dimensional ZnS nanowires incorporated in the active layer (optimal 10 wt.%) and their morphology. In the presented work, we showed that devices based on 1D ZnS nanowires were distinguished by the high value of V oc parameter (with the maximum achieved value of 0.634 V). Also we investigated the spatial layout of nanocrystals in the device, depending on its post treatment, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). Our study showed spatial segregation of nanocrystals to both interfaces with electrodes, and also we showed significant changes (0.71 eV at the top) in the PEDOT:PSS work function after mixing with ZnS nanocrystals, which resulted in an increase in the difference in contact potential at respective electrodes, which explained the high value of V oc . In comparison to our previous study, by replacing an active layer of the 0D ZnS nanocrystals with 1D ZnS nanowires, nearly a triple increase of the overall efficiency (maximum of % η of 0.568) of the device was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a simple, inexpensive room temperature chemical bath deposition is proposed to synthesize high-quality Zn(O)S nanoparticles of varied composition. The band gap of these nanoparticles is found to alter by varying their chemical composition. Through this study, the formation of quantum confined ZnS and ZnOS nanoparticles as a function of p H is confirmed. A possible mechanism for the formation of these nanoparticles with respect to p H is discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of zinc sulphide nanoparticles (ZnS NPs) using a green approach was explored. The resulting nanoparticles (NPs) were characterised by UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The leishmanicidal, cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of the resulting synthesised ZnS NPs (<70 nm) were evaluated against Leishmania major (L. major) promastigotes and amastigotes by MTT assay and using a macrophage model. The ZnS NPs were able to counteract the effects of oxidative metabolites as demonstrated by the oxidant activity. The IC50 value of butylated hydroxyanisole was 26.04 µg/ml as compared with the IC50 for ZnS NPs (90.95 µg/ml). The NPs displayed no cytotoxicity for the murine macrophaghes as the selectivity index (SI) fell into the safety range (SI ≥ 10). These nanomaterials exhibited good antileishmanial activity against the L. major stages that were comparable to that of Glucantime, the drug of choice. The IC50 values of ZnS NPs and Glucantime against amastigotes were 11.59 ± 2.51 and 4.95 ± 2.51 μg/ml, respectively. The IC50 values for ZnS NPs and Glucantime versus promastigote were 29.81 ± 3.15 and 14.75 ± 4.05 μg/ml, respectively. Further investigation is essential to explore the biological effects of ZnS NPs on animal and/or clinical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, ZnS, ZnS:Cu and ZnS:Ag NPs were prepared using a UV-assisted approach in water media. Zn(Ac) 2 was the Zn source and thioglycolic acid (TGA) was used as both of the S 2- source and capping agent molecule. UV-illumination decomposed TGA slowly and prepared the S 2- needed for the ZnS formation. Synthesized NPs were characterized by means of XRD, FESEM, TEM, EDAX, FTIR, UV–vis and PL analysis. The synthesized NPs indicated good photocatalyst performance for photo-degradation of Methyl orange (MO) as a pollutant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an attempt to facilitate annealing assisted self assembly, we have grown amorphous ZnS films using rapid vacuum evaporation technique and followed by air annealing at an elevated temperature for longer duration. It has been found that ultra long microwires were formed as a consequence of air annealing assisted asymmetric mass flow. However on further increase in annealing temperature the microwires were found to be squeezed, forming larger macromolecules. XRD studies revealed the gradual transition from amorphous to crystalline phase with preferential orientation along (008) hexagonal phase. Photoluminescence studies revealed multiple defect transition caused by annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Nitrophenol (4-NP), a toxic pollutant, is widely present in the environment and resistant to degradation under natural conditions. In this study, we propose an in situ doping strategy to synthesize cobalt nanoparticle-decorated S, N-doped porous carbon for efficient catalytic reduction of 4-NP. This strategy enables the incorporation of S and N dopants into the ZIF-67 derivative in a simple manner, simultaneously introducing a greater number of mesopores. This approach overcomes the laborious S-doping process and provides additional accessible active sites. The catalyst exhibits remarkably high catalytic activity in the presence of NaBH 4 for the reduction of 4-NP. The kinetic equation for Co@SNPC-10–900 is determined as ln(Ct/C0)= (−1.84331 ± 0.09329)t (R2 =0.99237). The mass-normalized rate constant is calculated as 147.46 min-1 mg-1, which is the highest, reported among similar catalysts in the literature. Furthermore, this strategy is cost-effective and serves as a valuable reference for the development of highly active catalysts. [Display omitted] • S,N doped porous carbon obtained by employing ZnS as an in situ dopant. • ZIF-67 derivatives with extended pore volume were synthesized. • Mass-normalized rate constant reached 147.46 min-1 mg-1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we demonstrated a facile method to prepare the porphyrin [5,10,15,20-Tetrakis (4-carboxyl phenyl)porphyrin] functionalized ZnS nanoparticles (H 2 TCPP-ZnS nanocomposites) under the mild conditions. Porphyrin molecules serves as both a functional molecule and stabilizer. TEM images showed that H 2 TCPP-ZnS nanocomposites are composed of nanoparticles with ca. 5–8 nm in size. The nanocomposites were for the first time developed as a peroxidase mimetic with catalytic activities and could catalyze the colorimetric reaction of H 2 O 2 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), where the oxidized TMB showed a typical absorption peak at 652 nm. Kinetic analysis indicated that the catalytic behavior was in accordance with typical Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Moreover, H 2 TCPP-ZnS nanocomposites could accelerate H 2 O 2 to decompose into ·OH radicals. The intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of H 2 TCPP-ZnS nanocomposites is due to the synergistic effect of H 2 TCPP as well as ZnS in the nanocomposites. Based on these findings, a simple and sensitive colorimetric assay to detect H 2 O 2 and glucose with a range of concentration from 0.01 to 0.06 mM and from 0.005 to 0.5 mM, respectively. In addition, this nanosensor can also be used for glucose detection in diluted serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the photoluminescence, optical absorption and structural properties of ZnS submitted to laser irradiation in water and isopropyl alcohol. Nanoparticles were produced by irradiating micro-sized ZnS particles dispersed in both liquids, with and without the addition of Ag nanoparticles, taking advantage of the laser-assisted fragmentation effect. When ZnS microparticles are irradiated either in pure water or isopropyl alcohol a considerable size reduction is achieved (from micra to few nanometers). The photoluminescence of these nanoparticles mainly occurs in the UV, centered at 350 nm, and with smaller intensity in the visible, centered at 600 nm. Irradiation of ZnS microparticles dispersed in colloidal silver triggers a reaction between both materials, modifying its optical absorption and photoluminescent properties. After irradiation of ZnS in alcohol containing Ag nanoparticles, a giant increase of the UV photoluminescence is observed. Interestingly, when the irradiation is performed in aqueous Ag nanoparticles colloids, the photoluminescence suffers a red-shift towards the violet-blue. The data show that core-shell (Ag-ZnO) nanostructures are formed after irradiation and the visible emission likely originates from the ZnO shell grown around silver nanoparticles. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the liquid medium promotes a stronger absorption of the laser beam during irradiation due to the coupling with the surface plasmon resonance, fostering intense reactions among ZnS, Ag nanoparticles, and the liquid medium. Our study shows that with a simple change of the liquid medium wherein the irradiation is conducted the photoluminescence can be tuned from UV to visible and core-shell nanostructures can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles were synthesized by a solid-state reaction at 90 °C for the first time. The effect of Eu 3+ and O 2- co-doping on the photoluminescence (PL) of the samples was researched. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), ultraviolet-visible diffusion reflection spectra, and PL spectra were used to characterize their crystal structure, chemical compositions, diameter, and PL properties. The results showed that all nanoparticles had a cubic blende crystal structure and an average crystallite size of 3.3–4.0 nm. Besides the emission from the ZnS host, typical luminescence of Eu 3+ was all observed in the emission spectra of ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles, and ZnS:Eu, O nanoparticles showed yellow emissions under 464 nm excitation. The PL intensity remarkably increased with the increase of O 2- concentration, and the maximum emission with correlated color temperature ~ 2419 K was obtained in the ZnS:1% Eu, 5% O sample, and about 2.75 times stronger than the undoped ZnS nanoparticles. Mechanism for the enhanced luminescence was discussed. This work suggests that Eu 3+ and O 2- co-doped ZnS nanoparticles prepared by the low temperature solid-state reaction method can be used for Light-Emitting Diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An In 2 O 3 nanoparticle-decorated ZnS nanowire gas sensor was fabricated by following a three-step process. The ZnS nanowires were fabricated by the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism using ZnS powder as a precursor. The In 2 O 3 nanoparticles were fabricated by a hydrothermal mechanism. The In 2 O 3 nanoparticles were spin coated on the surface of the ZnS nanowires, and the resulting sample was annealed for 1 h at 500 °C in vacuum. The ethanol gas sensing response of these nanowires was 2.9 times higher than that of pristine ZnS nanowires when these sensors were exposed to 500 ppm ethanol. The selectivity of the resulting sensor to ethanol gas among the other volatile organic compounds gases also improved by the decoration of ZnS nanowires with In 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Furthermore, since ZnS and In 2 O 3 are known as effective ethanol gas sensing materials, their combination creates a synergistic effect for ethanol gas sensing, selectivity, and sensitivity. In this study, we synthesized a hybrid structure containing In 2 O 3 nanoparticles and ZnS nanowires to fabricate a high-response ethanol gas sensor. We also investigated the ethanol gas sensing mechanism of the resulting sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the viewpoints of materials chemistry and physical chemistry, crystal structure directly determines the electronic structure and furthermore their optical and photocatalytic properties. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) emission and high photocatalytic activity have been obtained by means of a microwave-assisted solvothermal (MAS) method using different precursors (i.e., zinc nitrate (ZN), zinc chloride (ZC), or zinc acetate (ZA)). The morphologies, optical properties, and electronic structures of the as-synthesized ZnS NPs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) isotherms for N 2 adsorption/desorption processes, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), PL measurements and theoretical calculations. Density functional theory calculations were used to determine the geometries and electronic properties of bulk wurtzite (WZ) ZnS NPs and their (0001), (101 ̅0), (112 ̅0), (101 ̅1), and (101 ̅2) surfaces. The dependence of the PL emission behavior of ZnS NPs on the precursor was elucidated by examining the energy band structure and density of states. The method for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was used as a probe reaction to investigate the photocatalytic activity of the as-Synthesised ZnS NPs under UV light irradiation. The PL behavior as well as photocatalytic activities of ZnS NPs were attributed to specific features of the structural and electronic structures. Increased photocatalytic degradation was observed for samples synthesized using different precursors in the following order: ZA