A new two-step route to CdTe micrometer-scaled spindles and nanorods.

In this study, a simple and convenient synthetic approach for producing high-quality CdTe crystals has been developed. Cadmium telluride micrometer- and nanometer-scaled crystals were synthesized through a novel two-step route: CdTe nanoparticles were synthesized first via hydrothermal method and followed by diethylenetriamine (DETA) treatment. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed that spindle- and rod-like CdTe crystals were obtained by varying the temperature of the hydrothermal reaction and the time of the DETA treatment. The possible growth mechanism is discussed. The advantages of this synthetic route, when compared to others, are under mild conditions that the reaction carried out and without any prerequisite on the particles in the second step.