Large-scale production of CdSe nanocrystal by a continuous flow reactor

Organically capped CdSe nanocrystals were successfully produced by a continuous flow reactor in 13 g/h rate as isolated CdSe nanocrystal, using trioctylphosphine oxide ( TOPO) both as the capping organic reagent and the high-temperature reaction solvent. Relatively high reaction temperature (e.g. 350degreesC) was necessary for matured crystal growth. The quality of TOPO (i.e. impurity composition such like phosphonic acids) was also influential on the quality of the resulting CdSe nanocrystal. The continuous flow reactor was able to produce highly-luminescence, monodispersed CdSe nanocrystals, confirmed by transmission electron microscope observation. The production rate was stable at least 1 h to allow over 10 g production.