Ultranarrow ZnSe nanorods and nanowires: Structure, spectroscopy, and one-dimensional properties

The production of uniform wurtzite ZnSe ultranarrow width, 4.5 nm long nanorods, and 100-200 nm long nanowires with the same width, their characterization and their spectroscopic properties, is discussed. The development of rods from more spherical nuclie is illustrated. The uniformity of the rods and the wires is demonstrated by their spontaneous assembly into highly ordered two-dimensional supercrystals. The synthesis make use of ligating solvents, long chain alkylamines, which enable a low temperature, one step, bench-top reaction of the relatively innocuous zinc acetate and selenourea precursors, to produce wurtzite ZnSe nanorods and nanowires.