Facile synthesis of highly monodisperse EuSe nanocubes with size-dependent optical/magnetic properties and their electrochemiluminescence performance

We reported a facile and robust method for the synthesis of highly monodisperse EuSe nanocubes (EuSe NCs) with controllable edge lengths in the range of 8-70 nm. The EuSe NCs were formed through the aggregation of EuSe small particles (cores) and then their surface reconstruction under the influence of 1-dodecanethiol (DDT) that acted as a capping surfactant. DDT was not only found to be critical to the nucleation temperature of preparing EuSe NCs, but also played a decisive role in the formation of structurally well-defined nanocubes. The results indicated that the remarkable monodispersity and high shape consistency of EuSe NCs were highly controlled by the change in the DDT concentration. Furthermore, the size-dependent optical/magnetic properties based on the quantum size effect and the influence of edge lengths of EuSe NCs were also investigated and discussed. More importantly, the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) performance of EuSe NCs was first reported. This will make possible more biomedical applications in future.