Interface in Ag$_2$S/ZnS nanoheterostructures

The structure of Ag$_2$S/ZnS nanoheterostructures has been analyzed taking into account the morphology and elastic properties of Ag$_2$S and ZnS sulfide single crystal particles. The arrangement of S atoms in (111) planes of cubic argentite $\beta$-Ag2S and sphalerite ZnS has been considered. The elastic stiffness constants ${{c}_{{11}}}$, ${{c}_{{12}}}$, and ${{c}_{{44}}}$ of cubic argentite and sphalerite at a temperature of 300 K has been estimated. It has been shown that the formation of Ag$_2$S/ZnS heterostructures where the interface is formed by the (111) planes of cubic sphalerite ZnS and argentite $\beta$-Ag$_2$S is the most probable morphologically and energetically. The calculated universal criterion of the anisotropy of the elastic properties has shown that the studied cubic silver and zinc sulfides are elastically anisotropic.