Mustard oil mediated synthesis of magic-sized ZnSe nanoclusters

Magic sized ZnSe nanoclusters have applications in a wide range of areas, such as bioimaging, bio-detection techniques, LEDs and solar cells etc. Despite extensive studies done on ZnSe quantum dots (QDs), the technological potential of photonic behaviour of their lower size range clusters is still largely unexplored. We herein present rapid mustered oil mediated synthesis of magic sized ZnSe with their identification as single-family entities by trapping a fixed position doublet in their absorption spectra. Consistent absorption peaks at 304/305 and 318/19 ​nm irrespective of methods employed are presented. The PL spectra show broad emissions between 350 and 550 ​nm dominating blue region of energy offering scope of further tunability. The mustard oil mediated synthesis was performed using thermal, microwave and ultrasound energy. Despite their size domain of about 2 ​nm, their broad XRD pattern have signature of crystalline nature. Mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are in good support of ZnSe magic size clusters. Typically, blue region CIE coordinates are estimated from PL emission spectra. • Rapid one step ZnSe magic clusters synthesis mediated by mustard oil. • Mustard oil act as mild reducing agent as well as capping agent. • Synthesis by sono-chemical, thermal and microwave approaches. • CIE graph supported blue region application. • M/z value related with nano-clusters.