An oxide direct conversion route to nanocrystalline mercury chalcogenides

An oxide direct conversion route was reported to synthesize the nanocrystal line HgE (E = S, Se, Te) in ethylenediamine at room temperature. Mercury ox ide was used as mercury source and sulfur, selenium, tellerium, respectivel y, as chalcogenide sources. XRD patterns show that the obtained samples are hexagonal (wurtzite structure) HgS, cubic (zinc-blende structure) HgSe and HgTe, The influences of solvent and reaction temperature were investigated and it was found that the ethylenediamine plays a crucial role in the conv ersion process.