Synthesis and characterisation of cadmium selenide nanostructures by simple sonochemical method

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanostructures were synthesised by the reaction of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O, SeCl₄ and hydrazine hydrate (N₂H₄·H₂O) in water and in the presence of NaOH_, by a sonochemical method. In this work, thioglycolic acid, sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl-benzene-sulphonate were used as surfactants. The effects of the surfactant and sonication time on the morphology and particle size have been investigated. It was found that the NaOH plays an important role in the formation of pure CdSe nanostructures. To the best of the author´s knowledge, it is the first time that SeCl₄ is used as Se source for the synthesis of CdSe.