X-ray diffraction analysis by Williamson-Hall, Halder-Wagner and size-strain plot methods of CdSe nanoparticles- a comparative study

Abstract Cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles have been prepared by chemical method using sodium hydrogen selenide precursor and cadmium chloride. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study confirms the crystalline nature of the CdSe nanoparticles with Cubic Zinc blende lattice structure, whereas transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis indicate the spherical morphology of the prepared nanoparticles, having an average size of approximately 36 nm. Here, Williamson-Hall (W–H), Size-Strain Plot (SSP), and Halder-Wagner Method (H–W) have been used to investigate the particle size and the intrinsic strain from the XRD peak broadening analysis. Further, in W–H method, different models have been considered for the determination of physical and microstructural parameters such as strain, stress, and energy density. The average particle size that has been determined from Williamson-Hall, Size-Strain, Halder-Wagner Methods are compared with HR-TEM, AFM, and SEM analysis.