Synthesis and characterization of CdS particles within a nanoporous aluminum oxide template

Anodically grown porous aluminum oxide was used as a template in which to study the growth of CdS. The pores in this template are cylinders 50 nm in diameter by 30 mu m in length. CdS was grown from aqueous solutions by a U-tube method where reagents entered the pores from opposite ends. The resulting semiconductor particles' size, shape, crystallinity, composition, and optical properties were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and UV-visible spectroscopy. Polycrystalline oval particles with sizes on the order of tens of nanometers formed within the pores of the template. These particles did not extend throughout the entire pore but grew in only one area of the pore. The structures, size distributions, and possible mechanisms for the formation of these nanoclusters is discussed. (C) 1997 Acta Metallurgica Inc.