CdSe nanoparticles grown via radiolytic methods in aqueous solutions

Cadmium selenide, CdSe, nanoparticles have been synthesized in aqueous solution containing equimolar ammoniated CdSO4 and Na2SeSO3 as the starting materials without any capping agents, using gamma and electron beam irradiation under a reducing condition. The radiolytic processes occurring in water result in the formation of CdSe nanoparticles through the reactions mediated by hydrated electrons, eaq−. TEM measurements revealed that the CdSe nanoparticles were found to exist in agglomerates of dimension of about 100 nm, consisting of primary nanoparticles of dimensions within 5 nm. The as-grown nanoparticles were of cubic crystalline phase as supported by the XRD measurements. These bare CdSe nanoparticles exhibit room temperature ferromagnetic (RTFM) behavior. However, the RTFM behavior was found to be 30% higher in the case of CdSe nanoparticles prepared on electron beam irradiation as compared to those obtained by gamma irradiation, which was attributed to their relatively smaller size (2–3 nm) and disordered structures as compared to those obtained in the later case (3–5 nm).

Research highlights
► CdSe nanoparticles could be synthesized in aqueous solutions containing equimolar ammoniated CdSO4 and Na2SeSO3 as the starting materials using gamma and electron beam irradiation under a reducing condition.
► CdSe nanoparticles were found to exist in agglomerates of dimension of about 100 nm, consisting of primary nanoparticles of dimensions within 5 nm.
► CdSe nanoparticles exhibit room temperature ferromagnetic (RTFM) behavior.
► The RTFM behavior was found to be 30% higher in the case of CdSe nanoparticles prepared on electron beam irradiation as compared to those obtained by gamma irradiation.