Synthesis of the Water Dispersible L-Valine Capped ZnS:Mn Nanocrystal and the Crystal Structure of the Precursor Complex: [Zn(Val)2(H2O)]

The L-Valinate anion coordinating zinc complex, [$Zn(val)_2(H-2O)$], was isolated and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystal possess orthorhombic symmetry with a space group $P2_12_12_1$, Z = 4, and a = 7.4279(2)$\AA$, b = 9.4342(2)$\AA$, c =20.5862(7)$\AA$ respectively. The compound features a penta-coordinate zinc ion in which the two valine anion molecules are directly coordinating the central zinc metal ion via their N (amine) and O (carboxylate) atoms, and an additional coordination to zinc is made by water molecule (solvent) to form a distorted square pyramidal structure. In addition, further synthesis of the valine capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystal from the reaction of [$Zn(val)_2(H-2O)$] precursor with $Na_2S$ and 1.95 weight % of $Mn^{2+}$ dopant is described. Obtained valine capped nanocrystal was water dispersible and was optically characterized by UV-vis and solution PL spectroscopy. The solution PL spectrum for the valine capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystal showed an excitation peak at 280 nm and a very narrow emission peak at 558 nm respectively. The measured and calculated PL efficiency of the nanocrystal in water was 15.8%. The obtained powders were characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, and EDXS analyses. The particle size of the nanocrystal was also measured via a TEM image. The measured average particle size was 3.3 nm.