One-step construction of ZnS/C and CdS/C one-dimensional core-shell nanostructures

Abstract

ZnS/C and CdS/C coaxial core-shell nanowires, which consist of single-crystal semiconductor nanowires encapsulated by carbon nanotubes ( CNTs), have been synthesized by simple one-step thermal processes. These coaxial core-shell nanowires have uniform outer diameters ( 80-180 nm for ZnS/C, 60-130 nm for CdS/C), and uniform shell thicknesses ( ca. tens of nanometers) along their entire lengths up to tens of microns. The growth of the core-shell nanowires follows a novel metal reaction and self-catalysis vapor-liquid-solid ( VLS) mechanism. The simple method could, in principle, be extended to synthesize other metal sulfide single-crystal nanowire-filled carbon nanotubes, which can find potential applications in various fields of nanotechnology.