Cadmium(ii) complexes of N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoylthio(seleno)urea as single-source precursors for the preparation of CdS and CdSe nanoparticles

Cadmium complexes of N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoylthiourea and N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoylselenourea have been used as single-source precursors for the synthesis of HDA capped CdS and CdSe nanoparticles in a predominantly cubic phase, respectively. Both types of particles show quantum confinement effects and close to band edge luminescence. The particle morphology of CdS and CdSe nanoparticles obtained from the thermolysis of bis[N,N-diethyl-N′-(benzoylthioureato)]cadmium(II) and bis[N,N-diethyl-N′-(benzoylselenoureato)]cadmium(II) was found to be independent of the thermolysis temperature and monomer concentration in the ranges examined. The structure of the N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoylthiourea ligand was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.