Selective synthesis of ZnS nanowire-bundles and nanowires via different growth mechanisms

Template growth and catalytic growth are two typical mechanisms that are often used to produce one-dimensional II–VI semiconductor nanostructures. Here we report the selective syntheses of ZnS nanowire-bundles and nanowires respectively based on these two different mechanisms. Oleylamine is employed as solvent and coordinating agent, which induces a template growth mechanism and thus yields ZnS nanowire-bundles composed of thin nanowires. With adding AgNO 3 into oleylamine, an Ag 2 S-catalyzed growth mechanism is initiated and is found much stronger than the template growth, leading to ZnS nanowires of a relatively thick diameter. The proofs of the template mechanism arising from oleylamine and the catalytic mechanism based on Ag 2 S catalytic particles have been provided and meanwhile the competition and transition between such two mechanisms are discussed.