Synthesis and Characterization of ZnSe Nanocrystals by W/O Reverse Microemulsion Method: The Effect of Cosurfactant

Abstract

ZnSe nanocrystals with a cubic zinc blende crystal structure were synthesized by reverse microemulsions of water/Triton X-100/2-propanol/cyclohexane. The phase formation, state of particle size distribution, morphological characteristics, composition, and optical properties of the obtained nanocrystals were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, PSD, transmission electronic microscope, Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. All the measurement results showed that the particle size of ZnSe nanocrystals is governed by the amount of cosurfactant (2-propanol) besides the molar ratio of water to surfactant in the reverse micelles system. The presence of cosurfactant favors the modulation of the strength of surfactant film and the exchange dynamics of micelles. ZnSe nanocrystal synthesized by using an appropriate amount of 2-propanol possesses a narrow particle size distribution and a good crystallinity. A growth mechanism involving the possible formation of nanoparticles based on the effect of cosurfactant in microemulsion has been explored in this paper.