Synthesis of nanocrystalline cobalt selenide in nonaqueous solvent

Cobalt selenide nanocrystals have been synthesized by a solvothermal reacti on between metallic cobalt and selenium at 140 degrees C. The products obta ined have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmis sion electron microscopy (TEM), According to the XRD analysis, the as-produ ced cobalt selenide adopted a NiAs structure analogous to that of Ni0.85As. Therefore, it was termed Co0.85Se, Elemental analysis showed a cation-defi cient composition of about Co0.85Se, TEM observation indicated that the obt ained Co0.85Se nanocrystals were of foliate morphology, IR analysis suggest ed that the product was free from contaminants such as ethylenediamine. The influence of various solvents on this synthetic process has been discussed . Ni0.85As has also been synthesized with a similar synthetic process. (C) 2000 Academic Press.