SYNTHESIS OF METAL CHALCOGENIDE QUANTUM DOTS FROM AQUEOUS MEDIA

摘要

An aqueous system for the production of metal chalcogenide nanocrystalline salts such as zinc selenide, from a hydrolyzable chalcogen carboxyl compound, such as selenourea, by simple hydrolysis thereof under alkaline conditions in the presence of water soluble metal hydroxide, such as zinc hydroxide in the form of the zincate ion, i.e., Zn(OH)4-2. Selenourea contains selenium in the correct oxidation state, is inexpensive, commercially-available and readily hydrolyzable under aqueous basic conditions in the presence of the zincate ion to form zinc selenide. The zinc selenide is insoluble in the alkaline aqueous vehicle and precipitates over time in the form of nanocrystallites or quantum dots of the zinc selenide.