Flow reactor synthesis of CdSe, CdS, CdSe/CdS and CdSeS nanoparticles from single molecular precursor(s)

Abstract

[Cd(S2CNMenHex)2] and [Cd(Se2PiPr2)2] were used as single source precursors (SSPs) in oleylamine for the synthesis of CdS, CdSe, CdSe/CdS, and CdSeS nanoparticles in a microcapillary reactor. The influence of the different reaction parameters (precursor concentration, growth temperature and residence time) on the size and the optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that CdS nanoparticles were in the range of 5.0 to 8.0 nm whereas the CdSe nanoparticles were small (ca. 2 nm) with blue luminescence irrespective of the growth temperature, concentration or residence time. The CdSe/CdS core/shell and the CdSeS alloys were bluish green or green luminescent depending on their size.