Optical and magnetic properties of manganese-incorporated zinc sulfide nanorods synthesized by a solvothermal process

Manganese-incorporated ZnS (MnxZn1-xS) nanorods were synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. Synthesized nanorods were single crystalline. Manganese incorporation in the ZnS lattice induces a phase transformation from hexagonal wurtzite to cubic zinc blende structure. The diameter of the nanorods increased with the increase of Mn concentration. Intense orange luminescence at approximately 585 nm was observed for the nanorods. Six-line hyperfine splitting was observed in the EPR spectra for lower Mn concentrations, whereas broad Lorentzian-shaped EPR spectra were obtained for higher Mn concentrations because of the Mn-Mn cluster formation at higher Mn concentrations.