A combined template and closed space sublimation approach to the synthesis of single-crystalline CdS nanowires and their optical properties

High-quality single-crystalline CdS nanowires about 40nm in diameter have been successfully synthesized without any catalyst at ambient pressure by combining the closed space sublimation (CSS) technique with porous anodic alumina membrane (AAM) template method. Extensive characterizations of the nanowires have been carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy. A band gap of 2.38eV is determined from the UV–Vis absorption spectrum obtained from the nanowire sample. Our facile technique may in principle also be used for synthesizing other one-dimensional (1D) materials with high vapor pressure and axial nanowire heterostructures.