X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the cubic and hexagonal polytypes of zinc sulfide

We investigate the sensitivity of x-ray absorption spectroscopy to cubic-hexagonal polytypism in which nearest-neighbor positions are virtually unchanged. Experimental spectra and multiple-scattering calculations are reported at the major absorption edges in the zinc-blende and wurtzite modifications of ZnS. We demonstrate that d-like unoccupied bands are preferentially affected, as only L-edge absorption is sensitive to this structural transition. The results allow near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy to be evaluated as a detection method for crystal structure modifications in nano-scale systems.