Dopant-induced red emission, paramagnetism, and hydrogen evolution of diluted magnetic semiconductor ZnS: Eu nanoparticles

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 722 - 726
• Main Authors: Mallem, Siva Pratap Reddy, Puneetha, Peddathimmula, Subramanyam, Kalupudi, Reddy, Varra Rajagopal, Lee, Dong-Yeon, Kim, Young Lae, An, Sung Jin, Park, Kwi-Il
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2023; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diamagnetism; Dopants; Doping; Emission spectra; Energy levels; Europium; Hydrogen evolution; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Magnetic semiconductors; Materials Science; Nanoparticles; Optoelectronics; Paramagnetism; Rapid Communication; Refluxing; Spintronics; Water splitting; Zinc sulfide; 화학공학; Hydrogen Evolution; ZnS, Dopant-induced, Photoluminescence; Paramagnetism
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-022-1374-y

Cubic-structured europium (Eu) doped zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared via refluxing at 150 °C. Absolute structural studies showed that Eu + ions were successfully substituted into the ZnS host lattice and changed the original structure of the host. As-fabricated ZnS:Eu NPs exhibited typical red emission due to the transition of the Eu dopant in the 5 d 0 - 7 f 1 , 5 d 0 - 7 f 2 , 5 d 0 - 7 f 3 , and 5 d 0 - 7 f 4 energy levels of the 4f orbital of the dopant. The typical diamagnetic ZnS could be converted to tunable paramagnetic as a function of Eu-doping content. These NPs were quantified for hydrogen evolution through water splitting by artificial solar spectrum. Eu doping can drastically enhance the hydrogen (H 2 ) evolution capability of ZnS, which is higher than that of bare ZnS NPs. The causes behind these engrossing results will be revealed. These interesting properties may find applications in optoelectronics, spintronics, and H 2 evolution.