Atomically-Thin CdSe and CdTe Colloidal Nanosheets: Growth, Crystal Structure, and Optical Properties

The article describes the main features of a new class of colloidal nanoparticles with the electronic structure of semiconductor quantum wells – atomically-thin cadmium selinide CdSe and cadmium telluride CdTe nanosheets with a thickness of 1-2 nm and extended lateral sizes in the range of 100–700 nm. Approaches to the synthesis of such nanostructures by wet chemical methods are considered. A new effect of spontaneous folding induced by ligand exchange has been described.