Modulating Charge Mobility in Microwave Synthesized Ti-doped ZnS Nanoparticles for Potential Photoanode Applications

Abstract

Doping ZnS nanoparticles with different metal and/or non-metal ions is one of the ways to improve their properties. That is because dopants introduce strain into the lattice of the ZnS nanoparticles. The influence of Ti on the ZnS nanoparticles was investigated on the structural properties, optical properties, and also electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The presence of Ti in the crystal lattice of the ZnS introduced strain into the crystal structure, hence causing a lattice expansion and reducing the crystallite sizes of the ZnS nanoparticles. Ti doping was observed to increase the energy band gap of ZnS nanoparticles and also reduce the charge carrier recombination. Doping Ti into ZnS was observed to decrease the charge transfer resistance of ZnS nanoparticles with an increase in dopant concentration indicating an improved charge transfer mobility owing to the presence of strain in the crystal lattice.