Fabrication of Cd metal hexagonal semi-hollow microprisms by modified thermal reduction of CdO

We report here single crystalline cadmium (Cd) metal hexagonal microprisms (CdHMPs) with semi-hollow interior fabricated by modified thermal reduction of cadmium oxide (CdO) powder at 800 °C for 90 minutes under NH ₃ gas ambient inside horizontal tube furnace. CdHMPs were observed to be about 2-3 μm in diameter and 5-6 μm in length. The as-synthesized CdHMPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Vapour-solid (VS) process based growth mechanism is proposed for the formation of Cd hexagonal microprisms. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum for Cd metal microprisms exhibited a prominent emission band at 352 which may be owing to surface oxidation effects or induced defects.