Cadmium Selenide

Cadmium selenide is a binary compound composed of the elements cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se), with the chemical formula CdSe. It belongs to the group of II-VI semiconductors and has a zinc blende crystal structure with a lattice constant of approximately 6.05 angstroms.

Cadmium selenide has a direct bandgap of 1.74 electron volts (eV) at room temperature, which makes it suitable for various optoelectronic applications such as solar cells, photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, and lasers. Its bandgap can be tuned by changing its size through different synthetic methods, such as colloidal synthesis or molecular beam epitaxy.

Cadmium selenide nanoparticles exhibit quantum confinement effects due to their small size, which can lead to enhanced optical properties. However, they also pose potential environmental and health risks due to the toxicity of cadmium.

Cadmium selenide can be synthesized by several methods, including chemical vapor transport, precipitation from aqueous solutions, and thermal decomposition of precursors. Its properties can be modified by doping with other elements such as copper or silver.

In summary, cadmium selenide is a semiconductor with a direct bandgap, suitable for optoelectronic applications. It can be synthesized by various methods and its properties can be modified by doping. However, its use may pose environmental and health concerns due to the toxicity of cadmium.