Preparation and characterization of CdSe nanocrystals via Na2SO3-assisted photochemical route

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanocrystals have been synthesized in aqueous solution with Se as precursor via photo-irradiation at room temperature with the help of Na2SO3. The obtained products were analyzed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that CdSe nanoparticles with cubic phase were aggregated to an average size of 25 nm. The experiments also confirmed that Na2SO3, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and trisodium citrate (TSC) played important roles in the formation of CdSe nanocrystals. The possible mechanism for the formation of CdSe nanocrystals is also proposed.