Microwave-mediated nonaqueous synthesis of quantum dots at moderate temperature

The use of microwave irradiation to accelerate both inorganic and organic chemical reactions has attracted widespread attention. Generally, microwave-mediated synthesis of quantum dots (QDs) has been conducted in aqueous solution. Here, using commercial diesel and glycerol as reaction medium, a microwave-mediated nonaqueous method toward CdSe QDs with size-tunable photoluminescent properties produces oleic-acid-protected QDs at moderate reaction temperatures of 50-140 degrees C, which are much lower than the current temperature necessary for the synthesis of CdSe QDs in organic solvents. The appropriate condition optimization for high-quality CdSe QDs shows that different sizes of CdSe QDs with emission wavelengths between 450 and 600 nm have been synthesized through varying time, temperature, feed ratio, and reaction medium.