Luminescent CdSe Superstructures: A Nanocluster Superlattice and a Nanoporous Crystal

Superstructures, combining nanoscopic constituents into micrometer-size assemblies, have a great potential for utilization of the size-dependent quantum-confinement properties in multifunctional electronic and optoelectronic devices. Two diverse superstructures of nanoscopic CdSe were prepared using solvothermal conversion of the same cadmium selenophenolate precursor (Me₄N)₂[Cd(SePh)₄]: the first is a superlattice of monodisperse [Cd₅₄Se₃₂(SePh)₄₈(dmf)₄]^4- nanoclusters; the second is a unique porous CdSe crystal. Nanoclusters were crystallized as cubic crystals (≤0.5 mm in size) after solvothermal treatment at 200 °C in DMF. UV-vis absorption and PLE spectra of the reported nanoclusters are consistent with previously established trends for the known families of tetrahedral CdSe frameworks. In contrast to these, results of PL spectra are rather unexpected, as distinct room temperature emission is observed both in solution and in the solid state. The porous CdSe crystals were isolated as red hexagonal prisms (≤70 μm in size) via solvothermal treatment under similar conditions but with the addition of an alkylammonium salt. The presence of a three-dimensional CdSe network having a coherent crystalline structure inside hexagonal prisms was concluded based on powder X-ray diffraction, selected area electron diffraction and electron microscopy imaging. Self-assembly via oriented attachment of crystalline nanoparticles is discussed as the most probable mechanism of formation.