X-ray spectroscopic diagnostics of the structure of quantum dots based on zinc and manganese sulfides and oxides

Abstract

The microwave synthesis of quantum dots (QDs) based on zinc and manganese sulfides and oxides in a water-ethanol medium is proposed. The sample synthesized is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The XRD analysis shows the presence of the hexagonal ZnS phase of wurtzite type with an average nanocrystal size of 4.5 nm and manganese oxide Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite phase) with an average particle size of 12.5 nm in the sample under study, but does not provide the unambiguous conclusion about the doping of ZnS nanoparticles with Mn atoms. Although the analysis of the zinc and manganese K-edge XANES spectra suggests that the synthesized QD sample is a ZnMnS solid solution (~11%), a significant amount of a by-product (manganese oxide Mn₃O₄ of the hausmannite phase, ~89%) is formed.