Some critical factors in the synthesis of CdS nanorods by hydrothermal process

Abstract The effects of four critical factors including temperature ramping-up rate, hydrothermal temperature, capping molecules, and sulfur source on the shape of CdS nanostructure formed by hydrothermal process have been investigated. It was found that appropriate low temperature ramping-up rate (e.g. 1–3 °C/min), and enough high temperature (e.g. 200 °C) were critical for the formation of CdS nanorods by the TGA-assisted hydrothermal process using Na 2 S as the sulfur source. Moreover, CdS nanorod bundles with a special morphology was found to be formed when using TAA instead of Na 2 S as the sulfur source in the TGA-assisted hydrothermal process. Finally, the mechanisms for the effects of four critical factors on the morphology of CdS nanostructure were phenomenologically discussed.