Controlled synthesis of hyperbranched cadmium sulfide micro/nanocrystals

A series of novel wurtzite cadmium sulfide (CdS) hyperbranched structures, including dendrites, multipetal flowers, and multipods, were controllably synthesized by a NN-dimethylformamide (DMF) assisted hydrothermal route. US micro/nanostructures of a certain morphology could be selectively produced by only varying the concentration of DMF in the reaction system. The crystal structure, compositional information, and morphological structures were carefully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), field emission scanning electronic rnicroscopy (FESEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and selected area electronic diffraction (SAED). On the basis of the characterization, we propose a formation mechanism of the hyperbranched US crystals. This route provides a facile strategy to fabricate complex hierarchical CdS structures.