One-step synthesis of single-wall carbon nanotube-ZnS core-shell nanocables

Abstract

Nanocables with a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) core and a ZnS shell were directly synthesized in one step through a thermal reaction method by using carbon, Zn, and FeS powder as starting materials. The as-fabricated nanocables were studied using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The nanocables have diameters of ~50 nm, lengths of several micrometers, and shell thickness of ~20 nm. TEM analysis revealed that the shell is polycrystalline wurtzite-type ZnS with good crystallinity, and the core of the nanocables is one to several SWCNTs. Raman results showed that the diameters of SWCNTs core are mainly distributed at 1.28 and 1.16 nm, with high quality and metallic character. A growth mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the nanocables. This simple method may be applied to other SWCNTs-metal sulfide nanocables, which may have potential applications in photocatalysts, photocurrent, and other optical-electrical devices.