Growth and characterization of CdSe nanoneedles and other one-dimensional CdSe nanostructures

CdSe nanoneedles and other one-dimensional CdSe nanostructures were grown successfully by using metal organic chemical vapor deposition. These one-dimensional CdSe nanostructures could be found on the top surface as well as on the side surface of the GaAs substrate. The nanoneedles that were found to grow from the side surface could have length over 100 μm. Energy dispersive spectroscopy reveals that the tops of the nanoneedles grown on the side surface contain only Cd and Se, no trace of the catalyst such as gold is found. From photoluminescence measurement it was found that the nanostructures grown on the top surface could have either wurtzite or zinc-blende crystal structures, and there are more nanostructures with wurtzite structure than that with zinc-blende structure. This conclusion was also confirmed by the X-ray diffraction.