Preparation of large semiconductor clusters via the pyrolysis of a molecular precursor

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00193a079

The authors describe the preparation of nanometer-sized clusters of CdSe and show that mild solid-state pyrolysis of the various complexes give predominatly zinc-blende CdSe. It is shown that nanoscale compounds can be prepared by the solution phase thermolysis of molecular precursor compounds. This technique is a valuable complement to arrested precipitation and offers the chance to prepare nanoclusters of materials which cannot easily be formed by simply precipitation. This work also directly demonstrates the intermediacy of large clusters in the formation of solid-state compounds by the precursor method.