There exists a small but growing class of materials called goniopolar materials, that simultaneously exhibit dominant n-type and p-type conduction along different directions of the crystal. Although most studies on gonipolarity have focused on evaluating the properties of large single crystals, here we seek to understand the potential manifestations of this phenomenon on the nanoscale. Orthorhombic PdSe2, an air and water stable layered semiconductor with a bulk bandgap of 0.5 eV, is an ideal material to evaluate how gonipolarity influences charge separation in semiconductor nanoparticles. We developed a tunable, solution-phase synthesis method to selectively enable the growth of either the orthorhombic or monoclinic polymorph of PdSe2, utilizing Na2Se2 and various palladium salts. To better understand the mechanistic reason for this phase selectivity, we performed time-dependent X-ray diffraction studies to evaluate the phase evolution throughout the synthesis. We also show that control over the particle shape and size can be achieved via the introduction of different surfactants. These synthetic advancements will enable future studies of the properties and potential applications of goniopolar nanomaterials.

Solution-phase synthesis of goniopolar PdSe2 nanomaterials

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