CdS nanoparticles doped with Mn have been synthesized in aqueous solution
by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a capping reagent. Influence of the polymer
concentration on the size and concentration of the nanoparticles was studied using
transmission electron microscopy and optical absorption. Incorporation of Mn²⁺ ions into
CdS nanoparticles was confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) intensity increase and band
shift with Mn concentration. The PL studies proved that localization of Mn ions (inside
the nanoparticles or on the surface) depends on the sequence of synthesis steps. The
bleaching of the low-energy PL band of the low-doped CdS:Mn nanoparticles by surface
modification with a Cd(OH)₂ layer proves suppression of the emission related to surface
states.