Shape-controlled colloidal synthesis of rock-salt lead selenide nanocrystals

Developing simple synthetic methods to control the size and morphology of nanocrystals is an active area of research as these parameters control the material's electronic and optical properties. For a semiconductor with a symmetrical crystal structure such as lead selenide, anisotropic colloidal growth has been previously accomplished via the use of templates, seeds, or by block assembly of smaller, symmetrical subunits. Here, we present a simple method to create monodisperse lead selenide nanorods and multipods at low temperatures. The size distribution and the observed morphologies are consistent with a continuous, anisotropic growth of material. The syntheses of these anisotropic shapes are due to the nature of the nuclei that form upon injection of precursors into partially oxidized alkene solvents that may contain lactone and carbonate-functional derivatives.