Homogeneously Alloyed Cadmium Sulfoselenide Nanocrystals

Abstract

Alloy nanocrystals provide an additional degree of freedom in selecting desirable properties for nanoscale engineering because their physical and optical properties depend on both size and composition. This dissertation details the pyrolytic synthesis of homogeneously alloyed CdS(x)Se(1-x) nanocrystals in all proportions. The nanocrystals are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractrometry, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry to determine precisely structure, size, and composition. The dependence of band gap on nanocrystal size and composition is elucidated, yielding a bowing constant of 0.29, in agreement with bulk values.