title: Synthesis and size control of luminescent ZnSe nanocrystals by a microemulsion-gas contacting technique.
abstract: A scalable method for controlled synthesis of luminescent compound semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) using microemulsion-gas contacting at room temperature is reported. The technique exploits the dispersed phase of a microemulsion to form numerous identical nanoreactors. ZnSe quantum dots were synthesized by reacting hydrogen selenide gas with diethylzinc dissolved in the heptane nanodroplets of a microemulsion formed by self-assembly of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic block copolymer in formamide. A single nanocrystal is grown in each nanodroplet, thus allowing good control of particle size by manipulation of the initial diethylzinc concentration in the heptane. The ZnSe nanocrystals exhibit size-dependent luminescence and excellent photostability.
authors.forename: Georgios N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Karanikolos
authors.forename: Paschalis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alexandridis
authors.forename: Grigorios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Itskos
authors.forename: Athos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Mountziaris