Ultra-thin crystalline films of CdSe and CuSe formed at the organic-aqueous interface

Two-dimensional nanostructures in the form of ultra-thin crystalline films of CdSe and CuSe have been prepared at the organic-aqueous interface by reacting toluene solutions of metal cupferronates with an aqueous solution of N,N-dimethyl selenourea. The films have been examined using electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy. At lower concentrations of the reacting species, the CdSe films formed at the toluene-water interface at similar to 30 degrees C consisted mostly of nanocrystals. With increase in concentration as well as temperature, the interface reaction yielded thicker films which are mostly single-crystalline. We have studied the time-dependent growth of the CdSe film at the interface using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Ultra-thin films of CuSe formed at the toluene-water interface are generally single-crystalline.