We describe a novel strategy to perform low-temperature nanocrystal synthesis via the intermediacy of nanoclusters.  Crystalline CdSe quantum platelets are obtained at room temperature in primary-amine, secondary-amine co-solvent mixtures.  Their crystallinity is established by XRD, high-resolution TEM, and their sharp extinction and photoluminescence spectra.  Reaction monitoring establishes the magic-size nanocluster (CdSe)34 to be a key intermediate in the growth process, which converts to CdSe quantum platelets by first-order kinetics with no induction period.  The results are interpreted to indicate that the critical crystal-nucleus size for CdSe under these conditions is in the range of (CdSe)34 to (CdSe)68.  Thus the nucleation barrier is nearly surmounted in the formation of this magic-size nanocluster.  The nanocluster is obtained in isolated form as [(CdSe)34(n-octylamine)16(di-n-pentylamine)2], which is proposed to function as crystal nuclei that may be stored in a bottle.

Magic-size nanocluster (CdSe)<sub>34</sub> as a low-temperature nucleant for cadmium selenide nanocrystals: Room-temperature growth of crystalline quantum platelets

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Magic-size nanocluster (CdSe)34 as a low-temperature nucleant for cadmium selenide nanocrystals: Room-temperature growth of crystalline quantum platelets

Magic-size nanocluster (CdSe)₃₄ as a low-temperature nucleant for cadmium selenide nanocrystals: Room-temperature growth of crystalline quantum platelets