ZnS nanostructures: From synthesis to applications

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) is one of the first semiconductors discovered. It has traditionally shown remarkable versatility and promise for novel fundamental properties and diverse applications. The nanoscale morphologies of ZnS have been proven to be one of the richest among all inorganic semiconductors. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research activities related to ZnS nanostructures. We begin with a historical background of ZnS, description of its structure, chemical and electronic properties, and its unique advantages in specific potential applications. This is followed by in-detail discussions on the recent progress in the synthesis, analysis of novel properties and potential applications, with the focus on the critical experiments determining the electrical, chemical and physical parameters of the nanostructures, and the interplay between synthetic conditions and nanoscale morphologies. Finally, we highlight the recent achievements regarding the improvement of ZnS novel properties and finding prospective applications, such as field emitters, field effect transistors (FETs), p-type conductors, catalyzators, UV-light sensors, chemical sensors (including gas sensors), biosensors, and nanogenerators. Overall this review presents a systematic investigation of the ‘synthesis-property-application’ triangle for the diverse ZnS nanostructures.