Aqueous-based route toward Fe:ZnSe semiconductor nanocrystals: Synthesis and characterization

• Published in: Materials characterization Vol. 62; no. 6; pp. 582 - 587
• Main Authors: Xie, Ruishi, Li, Yuanli, Liu, Lingyun, Yang, Lin, Xiao, Dingquan, Zhu, Jianguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: ABSORPTION SPECTRA; ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY; AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; DOPED MATERIALS; Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; FOURIER TRANSFORMATION; Fourier transforms; Iron; IRON COMPOUNDS; MATERIALS SCIENCE; Nanocrystals; NANOSTRUCTURES; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; Optical spectroscopy; PARTICLE SIZE; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; PHOTOLUMINESCENCE; Physics; Quantum confinement; REACTION KINETICS; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; Semiconductors; Solidification; SYNTHESIS; TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY; X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY; X-rays; ZINC SELENIDES; ZINC SULFIDES; X-ray diffraction; Optical spectroscopy; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Infrared spectroscopy; Fourier transformation; Semiconductor materials; Synthesis; XRD; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 1044-5803; 1873-4189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2011.03.016

Nearly monodisperse and luminescent Fe-doped ZnSe semiconductor nanocrystals were synthesized by an aqueous-based route. The obtained nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy. The resulting nanocrystals were well retained in the zinc blende structure, and the Fe dopants were doped into the ZnSe nanocrystals, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. From combination of transmission electron microscopy result and computing methods according to ultraviolet–visible absorption spectrum and X-ray diffraction pattern, particle size of the obtained nanocrystals was found to be about 5 nm. Thioglycolic acid as ligand was successfully capped on the surface of the resulting nanocrystals, confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The obtained nanocrystals exhibit an emission peak at 431 nm; and the photoluminescence band is relatively narrow and symmetric, which indicates that the nanocrystals are nearly monodisperse and homogeneous. Absorption shoulder of the resulting nanocrystals is blue-shifted compared with that of corresponding bulk ZnSe, indicating the quantum confinement effect. The possible reaction mechanism of formation of Fe-doped ZnSe nanocrystals in the aqueous solution was also discussed. Our results demonstrate that the aqueous-based route could be successfully adopted for producing high-quality doped semiconductor nanocrystals. ► An aqueous-based route is demonstrated for synthesizing Fe:ZnSe nanocrystals. ► Structure, composition and optical properties of the nanocrystals were investigated. ► The synthetic route could be adopted for producing high-quality doped nanocrystals.