Controlled Synthesis of CdTe and CdSe Multiblock Heteronanostructures

We have successfully synthesized a novel cadmium telluride and cadmium selenide multiple-block heteronanostructure using the hot coordinating solvents method. Using this method, we grew CdSe at each end of the CdTe nanorods and then grew CdTe at the ends of the CdSe/CdTe/CdSe rods. This heterogeneous nanorod architecture is different from previous studies where a linear CdSe block is first synthesized and then CdTe extensions are grown on the ends of the CdSe. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the heterostructure shows that the CdSe and CdTe rich parts of the nanorods both have the wurtzite crystal structure and that stacking faults are common. In this report, EELS line scans accompanied by optical analysis (ultraviolet-visible and photoluminescence) and thin film X-ray diffraction of the prepared nanoparticles were used to confirm the formation of heteronanostructures.