Template-free Solvothermaly Synthesized ZnSe and ZnSe: Eu3+ Nanoparticles, Structural, Optical and Raman Studies

Lanthanide ions are visible to near-infrared ultra-narrowband emitters with long lifetime thus have potential applications in lasing, up-conversion and in bioimaging. Present work report a general, single step and easy solvothermal method to synthesize well crystalline, pure and Eu3+ doped ZnSe nanocrystals in a unified system. The products were well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDAX) and by Raman spectroscopy. Semiconducting NPs exhibiting cubic phases were obtained at low temperature under mild conditions. The products were found to show significant finite size effect as characterized by broadened XRD peaks, blue shift of the interband optical absorption edge and by Raman scatterings. The structure and properties were correlated and detailed growth mechanism has also been discussed.