Magic-sized CdSe nanoclusters: a review on synthesis, properties and white light potential

Abstract

Magic-sized nanoclusters have gained tremendous attention from researchers as they offer applicability in a variety of fields ranging from chemistry and physics to electronics. The first report on magic-sized nanoclusters of CdSe gave impetus to deepen the understanding of the sub 2 nanometer (<2 nm) dimension regime of II–VI semiconductor quantum dots, which have been vastly documented in the last four decades. One of the major challenges, however, remaining is reproducible synthesis employing a variety of precursors. In the case of synthesis of CdSe, often reagents are challenging to handle in terms of their stability and toxicity. Yet, this semiconductor material alone has been studied by many as a model compound semiconductor in terms of quantum dots and the same has been extended to magic-sized nanoclusters in view of the great potential as white light emitting materials. The present review discusses some of the aspects related to magic-sized CdSe nanoclusters to boost the understanding and possibility of their application in photonics and electronics.