Influence of HCl on the NPs-CdSe synthesis prepared by the colloidal method

Cadmium selenide nanoparticles (NPs-CdSe) were synthesized by colloidal route at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using cadmium chloride (CdCl2·2.5 hydrate) and elemental selenium (Se) as precursors. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) was used as reducing agent to obtain Se2− ions and an aqueous solution with a NaOH and Penta sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) was used to protect Cd2+ ions. To remove the by-products generated during the chemical reaction and to promote the precipitation of NPs-CdSe, a cleaning process with an aqueous solution of HCl was performed. The HCl volume was varied from 0.2 to 1.2 ml during the cleaning process to study its effects on CdSe synthesis. The crystalline structure was analyzed by inspection of the high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This analysis showed that crystals of CdSe exhibit a face-centered cubic structure (FCC). The calculated crystallite size is 3.5 nm and increases to 4.5 nm as the HCl volume increases. The morphologies of the products were observed by SEM and TEM techniques. HRTEM images showed that NPs-CdSe synthetized to 0.8 ml are composed of a great number of homogeneous and smooth nanospheres which are not appreciable in SEM but are observable in TEM. By contrast, 0.2 and 1.2 ml HCl samples are comprised of a great deal of rods of compounds of Se mixed with CdSe spheres nanostructures. This work, which did not require the use of surfactants complexes or specials environment, is considered to have advantages over other works.