Observation of Blue Shift Phenomena in Semiconducting ZnS Nanomaterials Upon Ni Dopant Showing Enhanced Dielectric Behavior

Undoped ZnS and Ni doped ZnS with different ratios were synthesized by hydrothermal method employing ethylenediamine (EDA) as modifier. Various techniques were used to study the structural, morphological, optical, molecular and electrical properties. From X-ray diffraction (XRD), it has been confirmed that these were polycrystalline nature having cubic structures. Also from XRD, crystal size, lattice constants and growth rate enhancement with induction of Ni ions were observed. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) gave the molecular information, i.e., associated functional groups with vibration of molecules. From UV-visible spectra, we observed that the gradual increase in the optical band gap energy from 3.62 to 4.36 eV with increasing concentration of nickel dopant and the phenomena of blue shift phenomena was observed. It is evident from PL spectra that emission spectra of blue shift endured with increasing Ni concentration. Morphological image with spherical shape of nanoparticles was revealed from scanning electron microscope (SEM). Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) confirmed the elemental Ni ratios in ZnS nanoparticles (NP). The NPs show enhanced dielectric behaviors at room temperature. The AC conductivity of ZnS NPs was studied by enhancing of Ni doping in the frequency range from 2 to 200 kHz showing semiconducting nature.