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For practical uses, there has been a lot of interest in simple, inexpensive, and efficient synthesis of materials for supercapacitor applications. Pure and cobalt-doped zinc sulfide (Co-doped ZnS) powder samples were synthesized in this study using a straightforward co-precipitation process, and their electrochemical performance was examined. It was observed that, at a scan rate of 10 mV s−1, pure ZnS has a specific capacitance of only 460.7 F g−1; however, the Co-doping in ZnS increases it to 947.8 F g−1 for the 5% Co-doped sample, Co (0.05): ZnS. The results suggest that Co-doping in ZnS increases the kinetics and rate of redox processes. The increase in electrochemical active sites brought about by integrating Co into ZnS increases the surface area and results in the sample's capacity for storage. The encouraging findings increase the likelihood of elemental doping with other transition metal elements to increase the energy storage capability of earth-abundant ZnS samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, research on photocatalysis has become indispensable in tackling the key global environmental issues caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization. In the present work, novel Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites were designed for visible light driven wastewater remediation and explored the optimum concentration of CuO with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. The study aimed to tailor the optical response of the photocatalysts to utilize the visible spectrum with enhanced performance against organic pollutants. For the development of Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites, CuO flowers were prepared via a simple hydrothermal technique, whereas a chemical co-precipitation procedure was used to create Sn-doped ZnS nanoparticles (NPs). The X-ray diffraction confirmed the monoclinic phase of CuO, whilst ZnS crystallized in a wurtzite structure. The diffraction patterns of the Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites comprised of Sn-doped ZnS and CuO co-existing phases. The crystallite sizes were determined to be in the range between 8 and 28 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy further confirmed the elemental information of the photocatalysts. The FESEM images demonstrated a flower-like morphology for CuO, while Sn-doped ZnS revealed agglomeration of NPs. Furthermore, the optical response of Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites was significantly improved towards the visible region with the addition of CuO. Particularly, the Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites with a 75 % CuO ratio (marked as W1) revealed an outstanding methylene blue (MB) removal efficiency of 96 %. The current work suggests that the novel Sn-doped ZnS@CuO composites can be utilized for the degradation of toxic pollutants from the aquatic environment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the synthesis of Zinc sulfide quantum dots (ZnS QDs) by chemical precipitation method using air‐stable complex of hydrazine hydrate‐sulfur is reported. The hydrazine hydrate‐sulfur complex plays a vital role in the growth of ZnS QDs. The structural studies confirm that ZnS QDs are highly stable, spherical in shape, monodisperse, and exhibit wurtzite structure. The estimated particle size is in the range of 3–6 nm. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the ZnS QDs for the photodegradation of methyl orange is explored. The ZnS QDs exhibit interesting size dependent degradation performance. The photodegradation efficiency increases with increase in the size of ZnS QDs and the highest observed photodegradation efficiency is 66.31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the nature of the aqueous operation characteristics of photoelectrochemical‐type (PEC) optoelectronic devices, it is vital to manipulate the semiconductor/electrolyte interfacial properties to synergistically regulate the photogenerated carrier separation, charge transport in semiconductors, and interfacial charge transfer. In this work, it is demonstrated that sulfur vacancy effectively manipulates the band structure of ZnS and works as electrochemical reaction active sites synchronously. ZnS with more sulfur vacancy forms a larger built‐in electric field at the ZnS/electrolyte interface, simultaneously boosting photogenerated charge separation efficiency and promoting charge transport in ZnS. The sulfur vacancy also functions as the interfacial electrochemical reaction active sites, thereby accelerating the interfacial electrochemical reaction kinetics and reducing photo‐oxidation behavior. Hence, the corresponding ZnS PEC photodetectors exhibit excellent self‐powered solar‐blind ultraviolet detection capability with ultrahigh responsivity of 241.71 mA W⁻1, fast rise/decay time of 15/15 ms, high detectivity of 8.9 × 1011 Jones, outstanding wavelength selectivity of 1343, and excellent stability (92.6% after 8‐month storage), which is one of state‐of‐the‐art PEC UV photodetectors. Furthermore, the prototype of an underwater wireless optical communication device is demonstrated using ZnS PEC photodetectors as the light signal receiver. This work endows new sight for ZnS applications in underwater optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-sulfur batteries are considered as one of the most promising next-generation rechargeable batteries due to their high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, the shuttle effect of polysulfides significantly decreases the cycle life and stability of Li-S batteries, hindering their practical applications. The separator modified by inorganic metal compound materials can not only inhibit the shuttle effect of polysulfides, some of its special crystal planes can also accelerate the redox reaction kinetics of polysulfides. In this paper, the MoO2/ZnS nanocomposites were synthesized by growing spherical MoO2 on the surface of compass-shaped ZnS. MoO2 possesses strong adsorption effect towards polysulfides and ZnS exhibits excellent electronic conductivity, accelerating the electron conduction efficiency and redox rate. The cell with MoO2/ZnS separator exhibits a high specific capacity of 690 mAh g-1. At a high current density of 5 C, the discharge specific capacity can still be maintained after 1 000 cycles, with an average capacity decay rate of 0.014%, showing excellent cyclic stability and rate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The catalyst's particle size plays a crucial role in enhancing photocatalytic performance. However, it is still unclear to analyse the mechanism by which surfactants affect the particle size of photocatalysts from the perspective of crystal growth. Herein, ZnS nanomaterials with different particle sizes were synthesized using a simple solid-state chemical synthesis method, and the intrinsic influence mechanism between surfactant and catalyst particle size was analyzed from the perspective of crystal growth. It was discovered that the particle size of ZnS kept getting smaller due to changes in polyethylene glycol, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Analyzing the reasons revealed that the catalyst's particle size was related to the type of surfactant: anionic surfactants could reduce the catalyst size. Correspondingly, the catalyst with a smaller particle size has the optimal performance for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Photocatalysts Z-SDS exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance, yielding 11.47 mmol/g of hydrogen after a 5 h illumination. Furthermore, the intrinsic influence mechanism between anionic and cationic surfactants, photocatalyst particle size, and catalytic performance was investigated. This investigation provides a new idea for synthesizing small-size and high-performance photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With high specific surface area, excellent polysulfide conversion activity, and fast electron/ion transfer at the interface, MXene‐derived heterostructures can be employed as catalysts for lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries to accelerate sulfur redox kinetics and suppress shuttle effect. However, the preparation of MXene‐derived heterostructures often requires high‐temperature reactions, which can easily lead to the oxidation of MXene and sacrifice the electrical conductivity. Herein, a catalytic two‐dimensional heterostructure (ZnS/MXene) was successfully synthesized via a mild method. The MXene skeleton retains the original nanosheet structure without oxidation. The in situ‐grown ZnS nanospheres prevent the restacking of MXene nanosheets, which not only increases the active sites, but also guarantees channels for the fast passage of lithium ions. The interfacial built‐in electric field further promotes electron/ion migration, thereby expediting the polysulfide conversion and suppressing the shuttle effect. Consequently, the batteries using ZnS/MXene modified separators exhibit a high initial discharge capacity of 1230 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and a low decaying rate of 0.082 % per cycle after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. This work offers a reference for the fabrication of MXene‐based heterostructure in Li−S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optoelectronic properties of ZnS doped with transition metals (Cu, Cd, Ag, and Au) are systematically investigated by applying first-principles computations based on the density functional theory (DFT). Various doping concentrations for Cu (5%, 10%, 20%), Cd (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%), Ag (5%, 15%), and Au (5%, 15%, 20%) are explored to examine their impact on the properties of ZnS. Our analysis confirms that all doped structures exhibit direct band gap semiconducting behavior. Notably, the band gap energy decreases with the incorporation of Cd, Ag, and Au, while an increase in Cu content results in a wider band gap. This work also evaluates how these transition metals influence the absorption coefficient, the dielectric constant, the refractive index, and the extinction coefficient of ZnS, providing a comprehensive insight into their effects. Our findings show a good agreement with existing experimental and theoretical data, offering a deep understanding of the optoelectronic properties of doped ZnS semiconductors. This investigation underlines the significance of doping in tailoring the properties of ZnS for enhanced optoelectronic applications, laying the groundwork for further experimental validation and theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present work we report the structural and optical behaviour of (99-x) SiO2 + 1ZnS + xPr (NO3)3·6H2O glass system where Pr (NO3)3·6H2O ions is doped in different molar concentrations (x = 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mol %) have been prepared by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed that the formation of glassy amorphous nature. FTIR spectra results confirmed the incorporation of the dopants into the ZnS lattice structure. The average particle size calculated from Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) spectra is around 10 nm and Selective area electron diffraction (SAED) image confirmed that studied glass is polycrystalline in nature. Judd–Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters (Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6) have been evaluated from the emission spectrum. The radiative parameters such as radiative transition probability (AR), branching ratio (βR), stimulated emission cross-section (σse) and radiative lifetimes (τR) were obtained using the JO parameters. According to the CIE chromaticity, this glass can produce green light and be helpful for laser applications in the visible spectrum. It may be used as optical amplifier devices as indicated by the values of the Figure of Merit (FOM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the photocatalytic performance of ZnS nanoparticle-integrated chitosan nanocomposite for degrading organic dyes in water and textile wastewater. ZnS nanoparticles with a cubic sphalerite crystal structure were uniformly distributed in a chitosan matrix, as confirmed by FT-IR, Raman, and XRD analyses. The FT-IR spectrum of ZnS displayed peaks at 410 and 490 cm‒1 (symmetric and asymmetric Zn‒S stretching vibrations) and a peak at 640 cm‒1 (asymmetric Zn‒S stretching). Chitosan exhibited bands at 893 and 1156 cm‒1 (C‒H and C‒O‒C bending modes) and a peak at 1412 cm‒1 (C‒H bending vibrations). The FT-IR spectrum of the ZnS-chitosan nanocomposite showed Zn‒S stretching modes at 619 and 670 cm‒1, along with peaks in the 1000–1117 cm‒1 range attributed to ZnS vibrations. Amide groups were represented by bands at 1588 cm‒1, while chitosan contributed peaks at 1399 and 2924 cm‒1 (C‒H bending and stretching vibrations). A broad band at 3374 cm‒1 indicated O‒H and N‒H stretching of chitosan. Peak shifts indicated interactions between ZnS and chitosan functional groups, confirming the formation of the nanocomposite. Raman analysis revealed peak broadening due to ZnS-chitosan interactions. XRD patterns exhibited intense diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 28.6, 47.5, and 56.4°, corresponding to the cubic ZnS sphalerite phase, and a broad chitosan peak at 2θ = 20°, confirming the presence of amorphous chitosan phases. SEM images depicted spherical or near-spherical ZnS nanoparticles (30–70 nm) within the porous chitosan network, confirmed by EDX mapping. TGA/DSC indicated chitosan degradation around 250–500 °C. The residual weight% at 600 °C directly represents the content of ZnS nanoparticles. Optical studies demonstrated a reduced band gap of 2.6 eV compared to 4.25 eV for ZnS. The optimized ZnS-chitosan nanocomposite achieved up to 100% and 97.99% removal efficiency for Brilliant Blue FCF and Acid Orange 2 dyes, respectively, following pseudo-second-order kinetics. It also demonstrated 90% dye removal from textile wastewater, surpassing ZnS alone due to the high surface area, favorable adsorption, and efficient charge transfer facilitated by the ZnS-chitosan nanostructure. The excellent reusability of the nanocomposite highlights its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Highly dispersed Cobalt doped ZnS nanostructures were successfully fabricated on the surfaces of graphene sheets via a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photocurrent spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to analyze the structural characteristics of the cobalt doped ZnS decorated with graphene $${\rm Co}_x{\rm Zn}_{1-x}{\rm S}$$ Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO nanostructures (NSs). UV-visible optical absorption (UV-vis) studies were conducted to investigate their optical properties. In laboratory studies utilizing water and visible light, the photocatalytic activity of $${\rm Co}_x{\rm Zn}_{1-x}S$$ Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs at (x = 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 atm.%) were evaluated. Graphite Oxide (GO) was successfully transformed into sheets of graphene and $${\rm Co}_x{\rm Zn}_{1-x}{\rm S \, rGO}$$ Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs possessed a crystalline structure according to the findings of XRD, RS and FTIR analysis. SEM investigation showed graphene sheets enhanced with ZnS NSs possessed cuboidal, spheroidal form of structure and displayed a paper like appearance. UV-vis confirmed a noticeable rapid increase in transmittance along the UV wavelength area and confirmed a highly transparent NSs in the wavelength range of (180-800 nm). Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the Co NSs have more negative conduction bands than ZnS, allowing for effective electron transfer from cobalt to ZnS and exhibiting a band gap decrease as Co content increased. The $${\rm Co}_{0.04}{\rm Zn}_{0.96}S$$ Co 0.04 Zn 0.96 S rGO NSs sample had the highest photocatalytic activity, measured at $$7648.9 \, \upmu {\rm mol} \, {\rm h}^{-1}$$ 7648.9 μ mol h - 1 . A combination of improved dispersion properties, greater surface area, increased absorption and enhanced transfer of photogenerated electrons, $${\rm Co}_x{\rm Zn}_{1-x}S$$ Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs increased the photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity.

ZnS is widely used in the photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen due to its fast electron-hole pair generation and high negative potential. However, its absorption in the visible region is poor due to its wide band gap, and it has serious photogenerated carrier recombination problems. Herein, a shallow impurity energy level was introduced by doping the ZnS lattice with Cd. Due to its presence, electrons trying to return to the valence band are trapped and excited twice, suppressing the recombination of photogenerated carriers and greatly improving electron utilization. The Cd1.5-ZnS possesses a hydrogen production rate as high as 85722.20 μmol/g, which is 17 times higher than pure ZnS. Meanwhile, Cd1.5-ZnS has a narrower forbidden band and superior visible light absorption, and the serious photocorrosion problem of ZnS has been suppressed. This study provides a viable approach for the synthesis of photocatalysts with adjustable band gaps and enhanced hydrogen precipitation efficiency. The band gap of ZnS is narrowed by doping Cd2+ into the lattice structure of ZnS. Additionally, a shallow impurity energy level is created in close proximity to the bottom of the conduction band. This level has the capacity to trap electrons returning to the valence band from the conduction band and to excite them. thereby greatly increasing the utilization of electrons and reducing the formation of electron-hole complexes. Consequently, the Cd1.5-ZnS exhibits superior photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. [Display omitted] • Shallow impurity energy levels are introduced by Cd2+ doping to give the samples the ability to capture electrons secondarily. • The samples with the optimal Zn/Cd molar ratios exhibited photocatalytic hydrogen production rates up to 85722.20 μmol/g. • The issue of the wide bandgap of ZnS has been effectively improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique created nanostructured semiconducting zinc sulfide (ZnS) thin films onto a quartz substrate. A gas sensing static unit, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the structural, surface morphology, and gas sensing properties of the as-deposited thin films. After the ZnS thin films were formed, they were heated to evaluate the effects of annealing on the characteristics of the ZnS film. XRD analysis reveals that the ZnS thin films exhibit a structure similar to zinc blend cubes, with a preference for the (111) orientation. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns that emerge during annealing show that ZnS thin films become more crystalline. Grain size increases as the annealing temperature rises. Images captured by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed a grain-like sphere for each of the annealed thin films, confirming the growth of grains. The UV-Vis spectra showed that the ZnS samples' transmittance boosts after annealing because their crystalline quality is improved. The transmittance is measured within the 400 900 nm band, and the optical band gap is direct at 3.72 eV, decreasing to 3.51 eV at 350 °C during annealing. Annealing significantly improves the physical properties of ZnS thin films, according to all presented data. NO2 and CO2 gas were used to obtain the I-V values of the samples. The ability of ZnS thin films formed at different annealing temperatures was tested using NO2 gas. The sensors were fabricated and tested at different operating temperatures and NO2 gas concentrations of 100, 300, 400, 500, and 700 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc sulfide thin films were prepared using the economical spray pyrolysis process. A thin film of exceptional quality with a temperature difference of 300 °C to 400 °C is produced by optimizing variables such as concentration, flow rate, and nozzle to substrate distance. These films' optical characteristics and structure were examined. The deposited thin films displayed a direct and allowed transition, as indicated by the optical transmittance spectra. XRD analysis confirmed that the deposited thin films were polycrystalline with a cubic phase. This film can be used in solar cell applications since the band gap energy fluctuation is high enough, ranging from 3.42 to 3.81 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of the mineral species of vapor condensates on the surface of lunar pyroclastic beads, formed during the flights of beads in the lunar volcanic plume, helps to constrain the physical and chemical conditions of the lunar volcanic plume. We conducted nanomineralogy studies of vapor condensates on the surface of pristine black beads from a clod that was extracted from the recently opened Apollo drive tube 73001. This drive tube had been sealed under vacuum since its collection on the Moon and thus represents the most pristine sample in allocatable Apollo collection. Vapor condensates observed on the surface include patches made of ZnS nanocrystals and possible rare scattered NaCl nanocrystals. ZnS nanocrystals were previously found on Apollo 15 green and yellow beads, but NaCl nanocrystals are unique to black beads. Both ZnS and NaCl nanocrystals are absent in Apollo 17 74220 orange beads. Although orange and black beads are of similar chemistry, black beads in the clod 73001, 226 could form from a different environment. Plain Language Summary: We studied vapor condensates on the surface of black beads from a clod, extracted from Apollo 17 drive tube 73001. This is the least altered sample in allocatable Apollo collection as the tube had been sealed in vacuum since its collection in 1972 on the Moon to 2022. Vapor condensates on black beads include common ZnS and possible rare NaCl, all of which are nanometers in size. The ZnS nanocrystals occur in patches of coatings that are also common on Apollo 15 green and yellow beads but have not been detected on 74220 orange beads. In contrast, NaCl nanocrystals have only been found on black beads. Black beads were suggested to erupt together with orange beads but cooled slowly in hot ejecta near the vent. The differences in surface condensates indicate that 73001 black beads formed in an environment different from that of 74220 orange beads. Key Points: We studied the most pristine black beads from a clod in the newly opened, previously sealed‐in‐vacuum Apollo drive tube 73001Vapor condensates include widespread ZnS nanocrystals and rare NaCl nanocrystals different from those on 74220 orange beadsDifference in vapor condensates on 73001 black beads and 74220 orange beads suggests different formation environments on the Moon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a study of a zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanocrystal and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite-based non-enzymatic uric acid biosensor. ZnS nanocrystals with different morphologies were synthesized through a hydrothermal method, and both pure nanocrystals and related ZnS/RGO were characterized with SEM, XRD and an absorption spectrum and resistance test. It was found that compared to ZnS nanoparticles, the ZnS nanoflakes had stronger UV light absorption ability at the wavelength of 280 nm of UV light. The RGO significantly enhanced the electron transfer efficiency of the ZnS nanoflakes, which further led to a better photoelectrochemical property of the ZnS/RGO nanocomposites. The ZnS nanoflake/RGO nanocomposite-based biosensor showed an excellent uric acid detecting sensitivity of 534.5 μA·cm−2·mM−1 in the linear range of 0.01 to 2 mM and a detection limit of 0.048 μM. These results will help to improve non-enzymatic biosensor properties for the rapid and accurate clinical detection of uric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly dispersed Cobalt doped ZnS nanostructures were successfully fabricated on the surfaces of graphene sheets via a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photocurrent spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to analyze the structural characteristics of the cobalt doped ZnS decorated with graphene Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO nanostructures (NSs). UV-visible optical absorption (UV-vis) studies were conducted to investigate their optical properties. In laboratory studies utilizing water and visible light, the photocatalytic activity of Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs at (x = 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 atm.%) were evaluated. Graphite Oxide (GO) was successfully transformed into sheets of graphene and Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs possessed a crystalline structure according to the findings of XRD, RS and FTIR analysis. SEM investigation showed graphene sheets enhanced with ZnS NSs possessed cuboidal, spheroidal form of structure and displayed a paper like appearance. UV-vis confirmed a noticeable rapid increase in transmittance along the UV wavelength area and confirmed a highly transparent NSs in the wavelength range of (180-800 nm). Calculations using density functional theory (DFT) revealed that the Co NSs have more negative conduction bands than ZnS, allowing for effective electron transfer from cobalt to ZnS and exhibiting a band gap decrease as Co content increased. The Co 0.04 Zn 0.96 S rGO NSs sample had the highest photocatalytic activity, measured at 7648.9 μ mol h - 1 . A combination of improved dispersion properties, greater surface area, increased absorption and enhanced transfer of photogenerated electrons, Co x Zn 1 - x S rGO NSs increased the photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure ZnS and Zn1-x CrxS nanoparticles were successfully prepared using the coprecipitation method, where x represents the concentration (x = 0.00, 0.10, and 0.05). There are many analytical methods used, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Spectroscopy of energy dispersive (EDS). The magnetism structure of the catalysts was investigated using spectrophotometry (VSM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). X-ray diffraction studies determine the nanocrystal arrangement and size of microcrystals. As seen in SEM analysis, the particles are agglomerated. The coordination of sulfur ions around zinc ions was examined using FTIR analysis. The energy band gap of the Cr-doped sample increases. Photoluminescence spectroscopy showed that the violet emission around 424 nm could be attributed to the excitation process of electrons from the low energy of the conduction band to the valence band of sulfur intermediate atoms. The front amplitude of doped ZnS nanocrystals remains constant regardless of the amount of Cr present. The results show that the ZnS nanocrystals were replaced by dilute Cr3+ ions. Cr-doped ZnS exhibits diamagnetic properties under high-temperature conditions. The results show that these materials are improved by the Cr doping process, making them suitable for many applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl acetate) nanofibers doped with PdS-ZnS nanoparticles (PdS-ZnS/PVAc nanofibers) were fabricated via an electrospinning technique. PdS-ZnS nanoparticles were in situ synthesized by adding (NH4)2S solution to poly(vinyl acetate)/zinc acetate/palladium acetate solution. Electrospinning of the formed colloidal solution led to the formation of poly(vinyl acetate) nanofibers containing uniformly distributed PdS-ZnS nanoparticles. The prepared samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In photocatalytic activity investigation, the PdS-ZnS/PVAc nanofibers showed remarkably enhanced performance towards water photosplitting under solar irradiation compared to the ZnS/PVAc nanofibers. This enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effects of heterostructured PdS-ZnS nanoparticles, which can improve photogenerated charge migration and solar light absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface plasmon resonance‐based fiber optic sensors with Ag‐SnO2 and Ag‐ZnS bi‐layers are proposed experimentally and compared in detail in terms of sensitivity. Effect of SnO2 and ZnS layer thicknesses on the sensitivity is examined. Largest sensitivities are achieved by sensors with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm SnO2 layers and 40 nm Ag‐10 nm ZnS layers. Sensor with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm SnO2 layers is found to demonstrate better sensitivity than that with 40 nm Ag‐10 nm ZnS layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application prospects of ZnS stress luminescent materials cover many fields such as high‐precision structural monitoring, smart materials, biomedical imaging, and new sensor technologies, which bring broad application prospects and significance to them in the fields of engineering, medicine, and scientific research. In this article, the electronic structure and optical properties of ZnS materials are successfully regulated by applying pressure and doping rare earth metals (Re), and it is found that the regulation of the luminescence properties of ZnS is the result of stress and doping interactions. Specifically, when pressure is applied or Re metal doping, the lattice structure is deformed and the atomic spacing is adjusted, which affects the electronic energy level distribution and optical properties of ZnS materials. Computational analysis of density functional theory (DFT) reveals the microscopic mechanisms behind these changes, including changes in lattice parameters, adjustment of bond length, and changes in band structure. This study provides theoretical guidance for the design and synthesis of high‐performance and high‐stability ZnS light‐emitting materials, and is of great significance for expanding the application of ZnS in the field of lasers and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the synthesis of ZnS through solvothermal method using hydrozincite (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6) as a precursor. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) was synthesized at four different temperatures: 80 °C, 100 °C, 140 °C, and 180 °C. All photocatalysts that were synthesized underwent characterization by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, N2 adsorption‐desorption isotherms, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron analysis. The performance of H2 using photocatalysis was evaluated by utilizing methanol as a sacrificial agent. At 80 °C solvothermal temperature, the ZnS exhibited maximum photoactivity, leading to an H2 generation rate of 154.8 μmolh−1. The high photo‐activity of ZnS synthesized at 80 °C was mainly influenced by the crystallite size, which has an essential influence on the specific surface area. The photocatalytic efficiency of the most active material decreased by approximately 17 % over four reaction cycles due to the photo corrosion effect, with ZnSO3 being the primary by‐product formed after the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskite materials are considered a promising optical gain medium for stimulated emission and have aroused tremendous interest in the field of laser research. The development of low‐threshold optically pumped amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) is critical for the advancement of continuous wave (CW) and electrically pumped micro‐nano lasers. In this work, an efficient ZnS additive is incorporated into the FA0.85MA0.15PbI2.55Br0.45 perovskite films to diminish the ASE threshold and extend the photostability by the dual‐site synergistic passivation. The experimental measurements and first‐principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) are employed to elucidate the doping mechanism. The designed ZnS‐based perovskite films yield a mitigated ASE threshold of 8.5 µJ cm−2 with an elevated optical gain coefficient of 109.06 cm−1, which outperform those of the control films (12.7 µJ cm−2 and 74.10 cm−1). The in‐depth experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations have corroborated that the improvement of ASE performance can be ascribed to the dual‐site synergistic passivation effects of Zn2+ and S2−, which reduces the surface defects of perovskite films, suppresses the nonradiative charge recombination and improves the optical stability. This work provides a resultful strategy to construct the solution‐processed perovskite lasers with low thresholds and superior stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging Zoned Namespace (ZNS) SSDs, providing the coarse-grained zone abstraction, hold the potential to significantly enhance the cost efficiency of future storage infrastructure and mitigate performance unpredictability. However, existing ZNS SSDs have a static zoned interface, making them in-adaptable to workload runtime behavior, unscalable to underlying hardware capabilities, and interfering with co-located zones. Applications either under-provision the zone resources yielding unsatisfied throughput, create over-provisioned zones and incur costs, or experience unexpected I/O latencies. We propose eZNS, an elastic-ZNS interface that exposes an adaptive zone with predictable characteristics. eZNS comprises two major components: a zone arbiter that manages zone allocation and active resources on the control plane, and a hierarchical I/O scheduler with read congestion control and write admission control on the data plane. Together, eZNS enables the transparent use of a ZNS SSD and closes the gap between application requirements and zone interface properties. Our evaluations over RocksDB demonstrate that eZNS outperforms a static zoned interface by 17.7% and 80.3% in throughput and tail latency, respectively, at most. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation introduces a novel diatomite-TiO2/ZnS photocatalyst tailored to address the challenges posed by organic dye pollution while concurrently providing antibacterial activity. The methodology commences with diatomite purification, followed by the deposition of nanoparticles forming a heterojunction system between ZnS and TiO2 on the diatomite surface, culminating in the development of the nanocomposite. Notably, the optical absorption edge of the diatomite-TiO2/ZnS nanocomposite resides within the UV light spectrum. Subsequent heat treatment at 500 °C heightens the system's responsiveness to UV radiation. The nanocomposite exhibits exceptional efficacy in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye. The optimal catalyst, DTZS 500, achieves a remarkable 98% degradation of rhodamine B within 180 min, boasting a pseudo-first-order constant of 0.03299 min−1, which is twice that of P25. Furthermore, nearly complete mineralization of organic matter is evidenced by chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. These superior performances are ascribed to the well-dispersed TiO2 and ZnS on the diatomite surface, the adsorption properties of diatomite, and the effective separation of photo-generated electron–hole pairs facilitated by the formation of a heterojunction system between TiO2 and ZnS. Moreover, the nanocomposite exhibits notable antibacterial effects against S. aureus, as evidenced by substantial inhibition zones measuring 38 mm in diameter. This study thus presents a promising avenue towards the provision of highly efficient and economical solutions for water treatment, encompassing both photocatalysis and bacterial disinfection. [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.

Abstract Copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) exhibits strong visible light absorption and thus has the potential for good photocatalytic activity; however, rapid charge recombination limits its practical usage. An intriguing strategy to overcome this issue is to couple CuInS2 with another semiconductor to form a heterojunction, which can improve the charge carrier separation and, hence, enhance the photocatalytic activity. In this study, photocatalysts comprising CuInS2 with a secondary CuS phase (termed CuInxSy) and CuInxSy loaded with ZnS (termed ZnS@CuInxSy) were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method. Structural and morphological characterization revealed that the ZnS@CuInxSy photocatalyst comprised tetragonal CuInS2 containing a secondary phase of hexagonal CuS, coupled with hexagonal ZnS. The effective band gap energy of CuInxSy was widened from 2.23 to 2.71 as the ZnS loading increased from 0 to 30%. The coupling of CuInxSy with ZnS leads to long-lived charge carriers and efficient visible-light harvesting properties, which in turn lead to a remarkably high activity for the photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green (95.6% in 5 h) and conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-nitrophenolate ions (95.4% in 5 h). The active species involved in these photocatalytic processes were evaluated using suitable trapping agents. Based on the obtained results, photocatalytic mechanisms are proposed that emphasize the importance of h+, O2 •–, and OH− in photocatalytic processes using ZnS@CuInxSy.

A 28-year-old male suffers for two weeks from new-onset very severe headache located on his left temple radiating to his jaw. He also complains about left sided retroorbital pain and chewing aggravated symptoms. In addition, nausea and emesis in the mornings during the past six months were reported. Clinical examination revealed tender swelling over the left temple, but laboratory results showed no signs of inflammation, normal electrolytes, kidney and liver values. A CT-scan revealed a circumscriptive osteolytic lesion in the left os temporale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A known property of quantum dots (QDs) is their characteristic luminescence, which would make it possible to detect different types of cancers after being functionalized with some type of biological molecule. For this reason, in the present investigation a methodological analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of the CdTe/ZnS core/shell QDs was carried out, using techniques such as Optical Absorbance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Molecular Fluorescence, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Zeta Potential that allowed to verify the photoluminescent effectiveness of these semiconductor nanocrystals as an alternative to conventional techniques currently used for the detection of specific cancers smaller than 1 cm. The study consisted of theoretically determining the bandgap energy, the size of the nanocrystals and the molar absorptivity from the wavelength value for the maximum intensity of the excitonic peak. It was also possible to verify the maximum intensity for each sample and thus evaluate its photoluminescent response, as well as it was possible to determine the charge distribution, the hydrodynamic size and the surface composition of each quantum dot. The results obtained correspond to what has been reported in the literature, which makes them good candidates for the detection of cancer in precancerous stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the state of research in the development of conductometric gas sensors based on II–VI semiconductors is given. It was shown that II–VI compounds indeed have properties that are necessary for the development of highly efficient gas sensors. In this case, to achieve the required parameters, all approaches developed for metal oxides can be used. At the same time, during a detailed review, it was concluded that sensors based on II–VI compounds have no prospects for appearing on the gas sensor market. The main obstacle is the instability of the surface state, which leads to poor reproducibility of parameters and drift of sensor characteristics during operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Room‐temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na/S) batteries have received increasing attention for the next generation of large‐scale energy storage, yet they are hindered by the severe dissolution of polysulfides, sluggish redox kinetic, and incomplete conversion of sodium polysulfides (NaPSs). Herein, the study proposes a dual‐modulating strategy of the electronic structure of electrocatalyst and sulfur to accelerate the conversion of NaPSs. The selenium‐modulated ZnS nanocrystals with electron rearrangement in hierarchical structured spherical carbon (Se‐ZnS/HSC) facilitate Na+ transport and catalyze the conversion between short‐chain sulfur and Na2S. And the in situ introduced Se within S can enhance conductivity and form an S─Se bond, suppressing the "polysulfides shuttle". Accordingly, the S@Se‐ZnS/HSC cathode exhibits a specific capacity of as high as 1302.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and ultrahigh‐rate capability (676.9 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1). Even at −10 °C, this cathode still delivers a high reversible capacity of 401.2 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and 94% of the original capacitance after 50 cycles. This work provides a novel design idea for high‐performance Na/S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis CO 2 conversion to valuable hydrocarbons driven by solar energy holds great potential in alleviating the greenhouse effect and energy shortage. However, the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction activity is hindered by the high charge recombination rate and low CO 2 affinity of semiconductor photocatalyst. Herein, a series of fluorine lattice-doped ZnS catalysts with accompanying sulfur vacancies (V S) are prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. Fluorine doped ZnS catalysts exhibit remarkedly enhanced photocatalytic performance for selective CO 2 reduction to CO compared to the bulk counterpart, and it is the ZnS 0.95 F 0.05 achieves the highest photoactivity among the as-obtained catalysts. Without cocatalysts or sacrificial reagents, ZnS 0.95 F 0.05 enables CO 2 photoreduction to CO with an outstanding yield of 16.04 μmol g−1 h−1 and high selectivity of 84%, about 6 times higher than that of ZnS (2.68 μmol g−1 h−1), surpassing most of the previously reported photocatalysts. The improved activity for fluorine doped ZnS can be due to the promoted carrier separation and CO 2 adsorption, owing to the synergistic effect of fluorine doping and concomitant Vs, based on the experimental verification and theoretical calculation. This study offers an effective approach to design photocatalysts for high performance CO 2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐recoverable mechanoluminescence (ML) is becoming a novel technology widely used in the fields of sensing, display, and artificial intelligence. The dominant ML material, ZnS: Mn2+, is reported to solely present a yellow emission color, which limits the applications of self‐recoverable ML materials to a large extent. Herein, an effective strategy to extend the ML emission range of ZnS: Mn2+ by the ferromagnetic coupling of Mn2+ ions are reported. Under the thermal carbon‐reduction atmosphere (TCRA), the emission ranges of ML, photoluminescence (PL), and persistent luminescence spectra of ZnS: Mn2+ phosphors are all successfully broadened from yellow to red. Furthermore, as for the PL and ML intensities of ZnS: Mn2+, they are intensified to 1.76 and 3.23 folds larger under the TCRA treatment than those in pure nitrogen, respectively. Various spectra and magnetic test results reveal that the red emission bands of ZnS: Mn2+ @TCRA phosphors originate from the ferromagnetic coupling of Mn2+ ions. This study is the first to realize strong red emission and tunable multicolor luminescence in the conventional ZnS‐based phosphors, which introduces opportunities for discovering the multiband emissions of Mn2+ ion in other compounds. Brightly multicolored ZnS: xMn2+ @TCRA elastic films have been fabricated to demonstrate their anti‐counterfeiting and security applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead anode slime is produced in large quantities during lead electrolysis, which has a high Sb content of 10-50 wt% and can be easily recycled. However, in a general alkaline pressure leaching process for pre-removal of As, Sb was partially converted to Na3SbO4 with high stability. This limited the Sb reduction and recovery in the subsequent Na2CO3 smelting reduction. Considering this fact, ZnS was creatively used as an additive in this study to destroy the stable structure of Na3SbO4 and increase Sb reduction, and meanwhile ZnS was reduced to volatile Zn (g) and recycled. In a certain range, increasing the amount of coke and ZnS increased the Sb yield, and Pb recycling could be accelerated. However, when an excessive amount of ZnS was added, the Sb compounds could be sulfurized and then combined with the generated PbS and Na2S, forming a sodium matte of Na-Pb-Sb-S. This limited the Sb reduction and reduced the Sb yield. Under the optimum conditions of a coke content of 13%, a ZnS/Sb molar ratio of 0.32, a smelting temperature of 1200 °C and a holding time of 90 min, Sb, Pb and Zn yields of up to 94.8%, 96.1% and 98.9%, respectively, were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]