Semiconductor nanorods: Cu, Zn, and Cd chalcogenides

Semiconductor nanorods have been synthesized by the use of surfactants. The nanorods of CuS, ZnS, CdS, CuSe, ZnSe, and CdSe have diameters in the 5-150 nm range and exhibit high aspect ratios, with lengths of up to several microns. By using a high surfactant concentration, nanotube-like structures of CdS and CdSe with high aspect ratios are obtained. All the chalcogenide nanostructures possess hexagonal structures, independent of the structures of the stable phases of the materials