Fabrication of coaxial Zn/ZnS core/shell fibers on a large scale

Coaxial Zn/ZnS core/shell fibers were synthesized via a simple thermal evaporation process using ZnO and SnS as the source materials. The coaxial fibers have lengths of several tens to hundreds of micrometers and are composed of inner Zn fibers with diameters of 50-500 nm and outer ZnS shells with wall thicknesses of 50-400 nm. The product was carefully studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The growth of coaxial Zn/ ZnS fibers involves the Sn-catalyzed growth of Zn fibers and then the formation of ZnS shells on them. The photoluminescence spectrum of the product studied at room temperature shows a strong orange emission at about 605 nm.