Influence of HCl on the NPs-CdSe synthesis prepared by the colloidal method

Abstract

Cadmium selenide nanoparticles (NPs-CdSe) were synthesized by colloidal route at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using cadmiumchloride (CdCl₂·2.5 hydrate) and elemental selenium (Se) as precursors. Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) was used as reducing agent to obtain Se^2? ions and an aqueous solution with a NaOH and Penta sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) was used to protect Cd²⁺ ions. To remove the by-productsgenerated during the chemical reaction and to promote the precipitation of NPs-CdSe, a cleaning process with an aqueous solution of HCl wasperformed. The HCl volume was varied from 0.2 to 1.2 ml during the cleaning process to study its effects on CdSe synthesis. The crystallinestructure was analyzed by inspection of the high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thisanalysis showed that crystals of CdSe exhibit a face-centered cubic structure (FCC). The calculated crystallite size is 3.5 nm and increases to4.5 nm as the HCl volume increases. The morphologies of the products were observed by SEM and TEM techniques. HRTEM images showed thatNPs-CdSe synthetized to 0.8 ml are composed of a great number of homogeneous and smooth nanospheres which are not appreciable in SEM butare observable in TEM. By contrast, 0.2 and 1.2 ml HCl samples are comprised of a great deal of rods of compounds of Se mixed with CdSe spheresnanostructures. This work, which did not require the use of surfactants complexes or specials environment, is considered to have advantages overother works.