Large-scale preparation of CdS quantum dots by direct thermolysis of a single-source precursor

CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized on a large scale, based on the direct thermolysis of one single-source precursor, (Me₄N) ₄[S₄Cd₁₀(SPh)₁₆], in hexadecylamine (HDA). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations show that the CdS QDs are well-defined, nearly spherical particles. The clear lattice fringes in high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) images confirm the crystalline nature of the QDs. The broad diffraction in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and diffuse diffraction rings of the selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern are typical of nanomeric-size particles and indicative of the hexagonal phase of CdS QDs. The absorption spectra confirm quantum confinement of CdS QDs. The synthesis process for CdS QDs was investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the nucleation and growth stages were separated automatically in a homogeneous system.