title: Homogeneously alloyed CdSxSe1-x nanocrystals: synthesis, characterization, and composition/size-dependent band gap.
abstract: Alloy nanocrystals provide an additional degree of freedom in selecting desirable properties for nanoscale engineering because their physical and optical properties depend on both size and composition. We report the pyrolytic synthesis of homogeneously alloyed CdS(x)Se(1-x) nanocrystals in all proportions. The nanocrystals are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractrometry, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry to determine precisely structure, size, and composition. The dependence of band gap on nanocrystal size and composition is elucidated, yielding a bowing constant of 0.29, in agreement with bulk values. In addition, the morphology of the resultant nanocrystals can be altered by changing the reaction conditions, generating structures ranging from homogeneous, spherical nanocrystals to one-dimensional gradient nanorods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235-1822, USA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Swafford
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Weigand
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: Jason L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.forename: Tony L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Sriram K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: Leonard C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C029663:cadmium oxide; D013455:Sulfur; D012643:Selenium