The effect of particle size on the structural transitions in zinc sulfide

Studies of pressure induced phase transformations of ZnS nanoparticles using diamond anvil cells and synchrotron radiation were carried out to 20.0 GPa. Nanoparticles initially in the zinc-blende and wurtzite phases both transformed to the NaCl phase under the application of pressure. The zinc-blende particles, which were of 2.8 nm size, and the wurtzite particles, which were of 25.3 nm size, transformed to the NaCl phase at 19.0 and 15.0 GPa, respectively. Nanoparticles of the wurtzite phase never regained their initial wurtzite structure but returned to the zinc-blende phase upon downloading the pressure. The resultant zinc-blende nanoparticles transformed to the NaCl phase upon the reapplication of a pressure of 15.0 GPa. Nanoparticles initially in the zinc-blende phase returned to their original phase. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.