Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) is one of the II-VI semiconducting materials, having novel fundamental properties and diverse areas of application such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), electroluminescence, flat panel displays, infrared windows, catalyst, chemical sensors, biosensors, lasers and biodevices, etc. However, despite the remarkable versatility and prospective potential of ZnS, research and development (R&D) into its applications has not been performed in much detail relative to research into other inorganic semiconductors. In this study, based on global patent information, we analyzed recent technical trends and the current status of R&D into ZnS applications. Furthermore, we provided new technical insight into ZnS applicable fields using in-depth analysis. Especially, this report suggests that ZnS, due to its infrared-transmitting optical property, is a promising material in astronomy and military fields for lenses of infrared systems. The patent information analysis in this report will be utilized in the process of identifying the current positioning of technology and the direction of future R&D.

ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals (~5-7 nm in diameter) with a size close to the quantum confinement regime were successfully synthesized using polyol and thermolysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analyses reveal that they exist in a highly crystalline wurtzite structure. The ZnO/ZnS nanocrystals show significantly enhanced UV-light emission (~384 nm) due to effective surface passivation of the ZnO core, whereas the emission of green light (~550 nm) was almost negligible. They also showed slight photoluminescence (PL) red-shift, which is possibly due to further growth of the ZnO core and/or the extension of the electron wave function to the shell. The ZnO/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals demonstrate strong potential for use as low-cost UV-light emitting devices.

ZnS 박막을 Hot W긴 법에 의해 증발관 온도, 기판온도 및 외부로부터 유황(5)의 공급을 변수로 하여 제작하여 광학적, 결정 구조적 특성을 분석 ·검토하였다 박막의 증착속도는 증발관 온도 및 5 증기압을 높일수록 증가하였으나 기관온도를 높이면 급격히 감소하였다. 박막의 광학적 특성은 증착속도와 밀접하게 관계하고 있다고 사료되며, 실온에서의 금지대 폭은 이론 값보다 작은 3.46∼3.72ev를 나타내어 결정 중에 결함이 존재함을 알 수 있었다. 박막의 구조를 분석한 결과 어느 경우에 있어서나 섬아연광 구조의 (111) 주 배향성을 나타내었으나 회절피크의 강도 및 반치폭으로부터 결정성은 대체로 양호하지 못했음을 알았다. 그러나, 기판온도 또는 5 공급 등의 제작조건에 따라 광학적, 결정적 특성이 개선되었다.