Magic-size II-VI nanoclusters as synthons for flat colloidal nanocrystals.

Five new, discretely sized, magic-size II-VI nanoclusters are synthesized in primary-amine bilayer templates and are isolated as the derivatives [(CdS)(34)(n-butylamine)(18)], [(ZnS)(34)(n-butylamine)(34)], [(ZnSe)(13)(n-butylamine)(13)], [(CdTe)(13)(n-propylamine)(13)], and [(ZnTe)(13)(n-butylamine)(13)]. The nanoclusters are characterized by elemental analysis, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, laser-desorption-ionization mass spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy. Four of the nanocluster precursors are converted to wurtzitic CdS, ZnS, and ZnSe quantum platelets and CdTe quantum belts, respectively, under mild conditions.