A synthetic method for transition-metal chalcogenide nanocrystals.

In this paper, we prepared a series of chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals in controllable shape and size via a facile wet route using metal nitrates and sulfur or selenium powder as precursors and octadecylamine (ODA) as solvent. The as-obtained chalcogenides included CdS, MnS, Ag(2)S, PbS, Cu(1.8)S, Bi(2)S(3), ZnS, Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S, as well as Ag(2)Se, Cu(2-x)Se, CdSe, MnSe. Furthermore, these cyclohexane-soluble monodisperse nanocrystals were assembled to water-soluble colloidal spheres and the adjustment of assembly orderliness has been achieved by controlling the experimental parameters. The general synthesis and assembly of chalcogenide semiconductors provide ideal building blocks for various potential applications.