Synthesis of graded CdS(1−x)Se(x) nanoplatelet alloys and heterostructures from pairs of chalcogenoureas with tailored conversion reactivity

A mixture of N,N,N′-trisubstituted thiourea and cyclic N,N,N′,N′-tetrasubstituted selenourea precursors were used to synthesize three monolayer thick CdS(1−x)Se(x) nanoplatelets in a single synthetic step. The microstructure of the nanoplatelets could be tuned from homogeneous alloys, to graded alloys to core/crown heterostructures depending on the relative conversion reactivity of the sulfur and selenium precursors. UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) images demonstrate that the elemental distribution is governed by the relative precursor conversion kinetics. Slow conversion kinetics produced nanoplatelets with larger lateral dimensions, behavior that is characteristic of precursor conversion limited growth kinetics. Across a 10-fold range of reactivity, CdS nanoplatelets have 4× smaller lateral dimensions than CdSe nanoplatelets grown under identical conversion kinetics. The difference in size is consistent with a rate of CdSe growth that is 4× greater than the rate of CdS. The influence of the relative sulfide and selenide growth rates, the duration of the nucleation phase, and the solute composition on the nanoplatelet microstructure are discussed.