Fabrication and characterization of distinctive ZnO/ZnS core–shell structures on silicon substrates via a hydrothermal method

A distinctive novel ZnO/ZnS core–shell structure on silicon was reported in this study. Compared with previous studies, ZnO nanorods encapsulated by 5 nm ZnS nanograins were observed using a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, strong (111) cubic ZnS crystalline structures were confirmed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area diffraction, and X-ray diffraction. The optical properties changed and the antibacterial behaviors were suppressed as the ZnS shells were attached onto the ZnO nanorods. Moreover, the results also indicate that the hydrophobicity could be enhanced as more ZnS nanograins were wrapped onto the ZnO nanorods. The ZnO/ZnS core–shell structures in this research show promise for use in future optoelectronic and biomedical applications.