With the rapid development of semiconductor technology today, CdSe (cadmium selenide) has become a hot topic for scientists due to its unique structure and excellent performance. This inorganic compound not only displays diverse crystal structures, but also exhibits extraordinary application potential under the influence of quantum effects. With the increasing attention paid to health and environmental issues, although some applications of CdSe are restricted, its mystery and charm still fascinate people.
The crystal structure of CdSe mainly has three forms: Wurtzite, Sphalerite and Rock-Salt. Among them, the sphalerite structure will transform into rutile when slightly heated. The process starts at about 130°C and ends at 700°C. In addition, rock salt structures can only be observed under high pressure.
The structural changes of CdSe in different forms make it show different characteristics in physical properties, laying the foundation for future scientific and technological applications.
There are two main methods for producing CdSe: the high-pressure vertical Bridgman method and the high-pressure vertical zone melting method, in addition to the production through nanoparticles. A variety of methods have been developed for the preparation of nanoparticles, including arrested precipitation in solution, high-temperature pyrolysis, sonochemistry, and radiation chemistry.
In solution, CdSe can be synthesized by introducing alkyl cadmium and trioctylphosphine selenide (TOPSe) precursors and subsequently surface modified to improve its solubility.
The synthesis of these nanoparticles shows amazing diversity and flexibility in their microstructure. For example, CdSe nanocrystals synthesized in a liquid crystal environment can exhibit long-range transport order, which is crucial to improving their application potential.
When the particle size of CdSe is reduced to below 10 nanometers, quantum confinement effects occur. This phenomenon means that electrons within the material are confined to a very small space, resulting in physical properties that can be tuned to their size. Taking CdSe quantum dots as an example, its energy level differentiation allows quantum dots of different sizes to exhibit different energy requirements during electron transfer, which makes them shine in a variety of applications.
The larger the size of quantum dots, the lower the excitation energy required, and their absorption spectrum will show a red-shift effect, which provides a basis for their application in optoelectronic technology and biomedical labeling.
CdSe has a wide range of applications, from solar cells, light-emitting diodes to biomedical imaging, all of which demonstrate its potential. CdSe is transparent to near-infrared light, making it valuable in certain procedures. In addition, CdSe is an important component of cadmium orange pigment due to its highly luminescent properties.
While the applications of CdSe in science and technology are exciting, we must also be aware of its potential health risks. Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal and proper handling is essential; selenide is also toxic in high concentrations. CdSe is identified as a known human carcinogen, so safety regulations must be followed during handling.
With the increasing attention paid to environmental and health issues, scientists need to think about how to make full use of CdSe while reducing its negative impact on the environment. Will this fascinating material continue to play a key role in the scientific community in the future?