In situ Synthesis of Metal Selenide Nanoparticles by Selenium Nanoparticle Disproportionation

Amorphous Selenium Nanoparticles (α-SeNPs) exist in a metastable state of polymeric Se8 rings and Sen chains that break and reform by electron propagation. Here we show that this quality can underlie the formation of metal selenide nanoparticles (MSeNPs) via a disproportionation type reaction with metal salt precursors.