2-(N,N-Dimethylamino)ethylselenolates of cadmium(II): Syntheses, structure of [Cd3(OAc)2(SeCH2CH2NMe2)4] and their use as single source precursors for the preparation of CdSe nanoparticles

The reaction of Cd(OAc)2 · 2H2O with NaSeCH2CH2NMe2 gave a homoleptic cadmium selenolate, [Cd(SeCH2CH2NMe2)2]. The latter complex, on treatment with Cd(OAc)2 · 2H2O, afforded [Cd3(OAc)2(SeCH2CH2NMe2)4], which was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Pyrolysis of [Cd(SeCH2CH2NMe2)2] either in a mixture of hot hexadecylamine (HDA) and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) or in a furnace (180 and 200 °C) gave CdSe nanoparticles with average sizes varying between 3 and 21 nm. Both cubic and hexagonal phases of CdSe nanoparticles have been isolated under different experimental conditions. The CdSe nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis, photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Time resolved luminescence measurements showed three different decay times for both band edge and trap state emissions.

Graphical abstractCadmium selenolates, [Cd(SeCH2CH2NMe2)2] and [Cd3(OAc)2(SeCH2CH2NMe2)4], have been prepared and characterized. The structure of the latter has been established by X-ray crystallography. Thermolysis of [Cd(SeCH2CH2NMe2)2] in a mixture of solvents (HDA/TOPO) or in a furnace gave CdSe nanoparticles which were characterized by UV–Vis, photoluminescence, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide