Synthesis of semiconductor surfactants nanomaterials and their diversified functional features

Abstract

newline newlineABSTRACT newlineMaterials with dimensions in the nanometer regime exhibit the properties which are remarkably different from their bulk counterpart. As a result of which, researchers and scientists are instigated to chalet the modifications in the properties that occur with decreasing size and explore the reasons behind the novel properties of nanomaterials. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter and usually defined as particles, whether they are crystals, rods, cubes and spheres typically between 1 and 100 nm in size at least in one dimension. There are three types of nanostructures (i) zero dimensional (nanoparticles) (ii) one dimensional (nanowires and nanotubes) (iii) two dimensional (thin films). All the three nanostructures have different properties. Zero dimensional nanoparticles comprise single crystal, polycrystalline and amorphous particles with all possible morphologies like spheres, cubes and platelets. If the nanoparticles are single crystalline, they are often referred to as nanocrystals. When the characteristic dimension of the nanoparticles is sufficiently small and quantum effects are observed, they are described as quantum dots. One dimensional nanostructure includes nanowires and nanorods. newlineMetal chalcogenide represents an important class of materials with wide range of applications in several areas contrasting from their bulk counterpart. As a consequence of quantum confinement effect, binary chalcogenide semiconductors have received attention due to their size-dependent optical, physical and chemical properties. Out of different metal chalcogenides, metal tellurides represent a class of compounds that exhibits excellent properties and potential applications in electronic, optical, thermoelectrical, catalyst magnetic and biological fields. newlineIn the present work I was motivated to explore structural, optical and electrical properties of Gemini surfactants capped lead telluride (PbTe) and copper telluride (Cu(2-x)Te) semiconductor nanoparticles via simple hydrothermal method. newlineLead telluri