Characterization and growth mechanism of ZnSe microspheres prepared by hydrothermal synthesis

ZnSe microspheres have been prepared in NaOH aqueous solution at 150 °C for 24 h by hydrothermal synthesis using Zn and Se as source materials. Effect of Zn/Se on the morphologies of ZnSe was studied. High ratio of Zn/Se was critical to prepare ZnSe microspheres and only tiny ZnSe grains were derived when Zn/Se was less than 2. The ZnSe microspheres were formed by the attached growth of ZnSe nuclei on the surface of Zn cores while the ZnSe grains were synthesized by the free growth of the nuclei in hydrothermal solution without sustainment.