Growth of II-VI ZnSe/CdSe nanowires for quantum dot luminescence

► Gold catalyzed ZnSe nanowires with CdSe insertions where grown by molecular beam epitaxy. ► The gold droplets remain in the solid phase during dewetting and nanowire growth. ► The nanowire growth proceeds by ledge flow at the gold/nanowire interface. ► CdSe quantum dot with abrupt interfaces allow high confinement of excitons. ► The nanowire growth mechanism is compatible with a Vapor-Solid-Solid growth mode.