Controlled assembling of CdSe nanoparticles into the mesopores of SBA-15 via hot soap method

We describe a hot soap method for assembling CdSe nanoparticles inside the channels of mesoporous SBA-15 materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), UV–vis absorption spectra, and fluorescence spectra have been successfully used to characterize the structure and the optical properties of the mesoporous materials. EDS analysis carried out on the pores of composite mesoporous silica shows strong Cd and Se signals, confirming the formation of CdSe nanoparticles inside the SBA-15 pores. TEM image shows that the CdSe nanoparticles are about 4–5 nm in sizes and uniformly dispersed inside the pores of mesoporous silica. In the UV–vis absorption spectra of the CdSe nanoparticles inside the SBA-15 hosts, a significant blue shift is detected and attributed to the confinement of channels of SBA-15.