Table Of ContentTopics in Mining, Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Series Editor: Carlos P. Bergmann
Abdul Majid
Maryam Bibi
Cadmium
based II-VI
Semiconducting
Nanomaterials
Synthesis Routes and Strategies
Topics in Mining, Metallurgy and Materials
Engineering
Series editor
Carlos P. Bergmann, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Abdul Majid Maryam Bibi
(cid:129)
Cadmium based II-VI
Semiconducting
Nanomaterials
Synthesis Routes and Strategies
123
AbdulMajid Maryam Bibi
Department ofPhysics Department ofPhysics
University of Gujrat University of Gujrat
Gujrat Gujrat
Pakistan Pakistan
ISSN 2364-3293 ISSN 2364-3307 (electronic)
Topicsin Mining,Metallurgy andMaterials Engineering
ISBN978-3-319-68752-0 ISBN978-3-319-68753-7 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68753-7
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How to Cite this Book
American Psychological Majid,A.,&Maryam,B.(2018).CadmiumbasedII-VI
Association (APA) semiconducting nanomaterials: Synthesis routes and
strategies. Cham: Springer.
American Physical A. Majid, B. Maryam, Cadmium based II-VI
Society (APS) Semiconducting Nanomaterials: Synthesis Routes and
Strategies (Springer, Cham, 2018)
Basic Springer Nature Majid A, Maryam B (2018) Cadmium based II-VI
semiconducting nanomaterials: synthesis routes and
strategies. Springer, Cham
Chemistry Majid A, Maryam B (2018) Cadmium based II-VI
semiconducting nanomaterials: synthesis routes and
strategies. Springer, Cham
Chicago Majid,A.,andB.Maryam.2018.CadmiumbasedII-VI
Semiconducting Nanomaterials: Synthesis Routes and
Strategies. Cham: Springer.
Math and Physical Majid, A., Maryam, B.: Cadmium based II-VI
Sciences Semiconducting Nanomaterials: Synthesis Routes and
Strategies. Springer, Cham (2018)
Vancouver Majid A, Maryam B. Cadmium based II-VI semicon-
ducting nanomaterials: synthesis routes and strategies.
Cham: Springer; 2018.
v
Foreword
Nanotechnology has been the hype word ever since the legendary lecture by Prof.
Richard Feynman, where he famously declared, “there’s plenty of room at the
bottom”. It is the promise of delivering enhanced novel properties by these mate-
rialswithrestrictedgrowthinthenanometerregime,thathasmadenanoscienceand
technology survive through decades and centuries. Nowadays, applications for
nanomaterialscanbefoundalmosteverywherefromfoodanddrugformulationsto
cosmetics and athletic gear; information technology to the energy sector. Among
these, the fusion of semiconductor science with nanotechnology has created a
plethora of widely variable applications, enriching both the fields. This book
focuses on Cd-based II-VI semiconducting nanomaterials and covers various
aspectsofthisimportantclassofcompoundsincludingtheirdifferentmorphologies,
characterization techniques, anddifferent classesofCd-based semiconductors.The
book specifically focuses on the different synthesis methods and covers a range of
nanomaterial synthesis techniques including solution-based, plasma-based as well
as gas phase methods. Cd-based II-VI semiconductors have been at the center of
materials science and engineering largely due to their potential application in
alternative energy research. Cadmium telluride has been touted as one of the most
promising materials for thin film solar cells, with efficiencies close to that of
Si-based solar cell, but with half the cost offabrication. Thus, the more economi-
callyfeasibleCdTesolarcellmodulehasledtothebirthofseveralcompaniesthat
are trying tomarketthe technology. The other cadmium-based chalcogenides such
as CdS and CdSe also show promising photovoltaic activities, and hence they are
beinghottopicsforresearchactivities.Nanostructuredmorphologiesofthesesolids
are attracting the same attention owing to their promise of delivering higher effi-
ciency lightweight solar cell modules. Making nanostructured morphology in bulk
quantities and predicted dimensions is a challenge researchers are still trying to
comprehend. A proper understanding of the different synthesis techniques, their
vii
viii Foreword
difficulties, experimental design, and outcome will lead us toward gaining more
know-how on morphology-controlled nanomaterials synthesis. This book will
equip the reader with such understanding that will help them create the nanos-
tructured morphology as desired for any particular application.
InChap. 1, the authors have introduced the concept ofnanotechnology, the ben-
efits, contradictions, and scope. Then after a brief introduction of Cd-chalcogenide-
basednanomaterials,thereaderswillbedriftedthroughtoChap.2,wheretheauthors
have described the Cd-based nanomaterials in great detail. It includes the known
classes of Cd-based nanomaterials, their different morphologies, properties, and
applications.Restofthechaptersinthebookdealswithvarioussynthesistechniques
of Cd-based semiconducting nanomaterials, ranging from methods close to equi-
librium, like solution-based methods to far-from-equilibrium processes such as
vapor-phasesynthesisandplasma-basedsynthesis.Theauthorshavealsodiscussed
methodstogroworderedarraysofCd-chalcogenidenanostructures,whichowingto
their promising photovoltaic efficiency, are becoming increasingly important in
energy conversion devices. These chapters will give the readers a comprehensive
viewofthewidelydifferentsynthesismethodsthatarenormallyadaptedtoproduce
these nanostructures.
The view of the book points to hard work of the authors. The primary author
of the book, Abdul Majid Sandhu, is currently an Associate Professor in the
DepartmentofPhysics,UniversityofGujrat,Gujrat,Pakistan.ProfessorMajidisan
active researcher on semiconducting nanomaterials with interest in materials sci-
encewithinthebroadareaofalternativeenergyresearch.Hisresearchencompasses
different classes of semiconductors, diluted magnetic semiconductors and semi-
conductor surface devices including Li-ion batteries. His excellent contributions in
the area of semiconductor nanomaterial research have earned him several awards
and accolades. He has been awarded the very competitive and prestigious fellow-
ship from Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences (2015–2016) to carry out
postdoctoralresearchinOsakaUniversity.Dr.Majidhasalsofulfilledhisdutiesas
head of the department as well as director research and has acquired academic as
well as administrative expertise.
I, personally have had the opportunity to work on nanoscience and nanotech-
nologyformorethanadecadethroughoutmyacademiccareer.Majorchunkofmy
research activities covers designing materials for energy-related research, where
nanomaterialssynthesisoccupiesasignificantportion.Beinganactiveresearcherin
the field, I understand how precisely a go-to synthesis book explaining the con-
cepts,design,andoutcomecanbecomeveryusefulandevenindispensable.Hence,
I believe the readers of this book will thoroughly enjoy reading it from
cover-to-covertobuilduptheirknowledge,aswellasuseitasaguidetolearnmore
about any particular topic.
Foreword ix
I believe, nanotechnology as promised will show us ways to change the world.
When it does, equipped with knowledge gained from books such asthese, we will
be right there to use its potential to the fullest.
Manashi Nath, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, USA
Preface
The various scientific fields, depending upon worth and applications, have earned
due attention and contributed toward human development and technological pro-
gress.Inthiscontext,thescienceofmaterialshasundoubtedlyplayedavitalrolein
the realization of current technological status of mankind. The recent scientific
progresshasincreasedtheawarenessaswellasthedemandsandexpectationsofthe
society which has raised the obligations of the researchers to meet the future
necessities. The leading fraction of the community believes that the renaissance of
science has taken place in the form of nanotechnology which is considered as a
proud intervention of current generation of scientists. The material researchers and
scientistsaresupposednotonlytoreplicateeveryknownmaterialintoitsnanoscale
counterpart but also to prepare new materials to meet the future technological
requirements.
In my view, the evolution of any new science discipline involves four stages:
discovery of relevant phenomenon, establishing the theoretical/conceptual back-
ground, developing a research methodology, and finally utilization of the attained
knowledge for applications or improvement in basic understanding of the relevant
fields. Unlike majority of the scientific areas, despite extensive activities, the
research related to nanotechnology is simultaneously continued at fronts related to
last three stages which points to an inefficient and undirectional progress in the
field. Besides several other issues, the problems related to reproducibility, quality
control, yield, aging, and availability of reliable characterization tools for nano-
materialsneedtobeaddressedwithoutanyfurtherdelay.Inordertoaccomplishthe
logical and desired climax in the field of nanotechnology, the community should
exclusively work on producing consensus in production and processing of nano-
materialstomakethemusableindevicegradeapplications.Aworldwidenarrative
and globally accepted protocol on nanotechnology need to be established. For this
purpose, a widespread overview of the global research activities and a dialogue is
needed to revisit the preparation strategies, material’s handling and processing,
characterization techniques, and potential of the materials for commercial grade
devices. The current book is aimed at providing an exhaustive analysis of the
research activities carried out to prepare cadmium chalcogenides II-VI
xi
