Sol-Gel Preparation of Zinc Sulfide Using Organic Dithiols

Zinc sulfide is an important electro-optic material that is useful as an infrared window and, when doped, as a phosphor or as the basis for an LED. This paper presents a solution-based method for preparing the material through sol-gel processing. Ethanedithiol and zinc chloride were mixed and the resulting sol was heated in a three-step process, producing crystalline wurtzite. Analysis of the sol and its decomposition indicates the following reaction mechanism: nZnC12+HSCH2CH2SH→ –(ZnSCH2CH2S)n –+2nHC1↑.