Rapid synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals in aqueous solution at room temperature

Water-soluble thioglycolic acid-capped CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared in aqueous solution at room temperature. We investigated the effects of pH values on the fluorescence intensity of the as-prepared CdSe NCs, and discussed the influence of the initial pH values on the fluorescence property. Their mean diameter was estimated to be 1.9 nm depending on the initial pH values in the preparation, the photoluminescence quantum yield could reach as high as 1.9%, almost comparable to the CdSe NCs prepared by an organometallic route. Finally, the products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). AFM image showed that the NCs were ball-shaped with good dispersibility. XRD analysis disclosed that the CdSe NCs were of cubic zinc-blended structure.