Synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnSe by mechanical alloying

Nanocrystalline alpha-ZnSe was synthesized by mechanical alloying after milling the blended elemental powder for just 30 min. XRD studies indicated that a homogeneous phase had formed after 1 h; no change was observed afterwards up to 10 h. The minimum crystallite size achieved was 9 nm. The lattice parameter of the powder milled for 10 h was a = 0.56578 nm. On annealing this powder for 1 h at 1000 degrees C, the lattice parameter increased to a = 0.56691 nm, suggesting that the lattice had contracted in the as-milled condition due to its nanocrystalline state, and that it reached the equilibrium value on annealing. SEM and EDS techniques confirmed the results of XRD studies. Our results indicate that a homogeneous alpha-ZnSe phase was obtained on milling and that the phase exhibited increased homogeneity range. These results are new and were not reported in any earlier investigations.

Automated summary

Nanocrystalline alpha-ZnSe was successfully synthesized by mechanical alloying, forming a homogeneous phase after 1 hour of milling without further changes observed up to 10 hours. The minimum crystallite size achieved was 9 nm. Annealing the powder at 1000 degrees C for 1 hour resulted in an increase in lattice parameter, indicating a contraction in the nanocrystalline state and reaching equilibrium upon annealing. SEM and EDS techniques confirmed the XRD results. These findings demonstrate the synthesis of a homogeneous alpha-ZnSe phase during milling and an increased homogeneity range of the phase.