Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Characterization of Chalcogenide Nanoparticles P.K. Bajpai 1,a , S. Yadav 1,b , A. Tiwari 2,c and H.S. Virk 3d 1 Department of Pure & Applied Physics, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, India 2 Department of Chemistry, Disha Institute of Management and Technology, Raipur, India 3 Visiting Professor, SGGS World University, Fatehgarh Sahib-140 426, India a bajpai.pk1@gmail.com (corresponding author), b sandhyadv614@gmail.com, c arundendra@gmail.com, d hardevsingh.virk@gmail.com Keywords: Chalcogenide Nanoparticles, Single Molecular Precursors, Solvothermal Process, X- ray Diffraction, Quantum Confinement, Optical Band Gap Abstract. Chalcogenide semiconductor nanoparticles and their self-assembly structures have become the most explored group of semiconductor nanomaterials due to the interesting physics involved in quantum confinement, surface chemistry and variety of applications. In the last couple of decades, facile routes for their synthesis and strategies for controlling the size, shape and morphology have been reported. In the present review, synthesis strategies of size and shape controlled nanoparticles belonging to II-VI group of semiconductor chalcogenides are presented and each method for preparation of nanoparticles is critically analysed. Role of various factors that affect the nucleation and growth of nanoparticles is discussed at length. Nanoparticles and self- assemblies of CdSe, CdTe, HgTe and ZnSe are synthesized using new and facile single molecular precursor based noble route by our group that uses non-pyrophoric, low temperature and non-toxic chemicals, their properties and synthesis scheme are discussed as future development in this field. Some recent applications of chalcogenides QDs in the fields of solar cell, optical fibre amplifiers, biosensing and bo-imaging are discussed and reviewed. Contents of Paper 1. Introduction 2. Synthesis Routes for Chalcogenide Nanoparticles 2.1. Colloidal Solution (Precipitation) Method 2.2. High Temperature Injection Route 2.3. Solvothermal/ Hydrothermal Process 2.4. Pulse Plasma Assisted Synthesis 2.5. Synthesis from Elemental Precursors 2.6. Ionic Liquid- assisted Synthesis 2.7. Microwave Irradiation- assisted Aqueous Synthesis 2.8. Sonochemical Process 2.9. Reflux Condensation Method 2.10. Capping-assisted Fabrication 3. Progress in the Synthesis: Chalcogenide Nanoparticles 3.1. CdSe Nanoparticles 3.2. CdS Nanoparticles 3.3. Copper Sulphide Nanoparticles 4. Applications of Chalcogenide Nanoparticles 5. Recent Advances in Chalcogenide Synthesis: New Single Source Molecular Precursors 5.1. CdTe Synthesis 5.2. Synthesis of HgTe Tubes 5.3. Synthesis of CdSe Nanoparticles 6. Preparation of CdSe, CdTe and ZnSe through Pyrolytic Route 6.1. Synthesis of CdSe Nanomaterials 6.2. Synthesis of CdTe Nanoparticles Solid State Phenomena Vol. 222 (2015) pp 187-233 © (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.222.187 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 117.197.129.248, Eternal University, Himachal Pradesh, India-03/11/14,01:55:52)