A facile non-injection phosphorus-free synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles using new selenium precursors

We report on new sources of selenium for the synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles of the A^IIB^VI type. Three types of Se-precursors were synthesized and studied: selenophene derivatives, dialkylselenides and dialkyldiselenides. The capabilities of the new precursors were examined in a phosphorus-free synthesis by the non-injection method. In different conditions, we managed to synthesize nanoparticles of different shapes depending on the used Se-precursors and growth stabilizers. Aminoselenophene derivatives showed the most promising results in the synthesis of CdSe QDs providing a high reaction yield (up to 82%) of NPs with good luminescence properties. We also found that liquid dialkyldiselenides could successfully replace a TOP-Se precursor in the synthesis of highly bright CdSe/CdS quantum rods with narrow photoluminescence. The proposed selenium precursors, being easily available and very stable, are promising alternatives to the highly toxic air-sensitive phosphine-based precursors and unstable Se-ODE solutions in the non-injection synthesis of different kinds of semiconductor nanoparticles, which is particularly important for industrial scale production.