Branched CdTe nanocrystals with zinc blende structure were directly synthesized in the early growth stage at a high initial concentration of cadmium precursor and a high molar ratio of Cd precursor to Te precuesor. Activation of the cadmium precursor by octadecylamine was found to be critical for the formation of branched CdTe nanocrystals. Furthermore, these as-prepared CdTe nanocrystals can evolve into nearly monodisperse dots through Ostwald ripening and still keep strong photoluminescence. These results manifest a new route to synthesize branch- and dot-shaped CdTe nanocrystals with zinc blende structure.
