With the use of elemental metals and selenium as resource materials, ZnSe a
nd CdSe nanocrystals have been prepared through an aqueous method at temper
ature as low as 80 degrees C in alkaline medium. The products were characte
rized by powder X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), transmission electron micr
oscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). Two kinds of chemical
mechanisms for the formation of the products and the influence of experimen
tal conditions are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights res
erved.