Nanomaterials are of great interest owing to the novel optical, electronic, and catalytic properties arising from the nanoscopic sizes and large surface areas characteristic of these materials.1 Past research has shown a special interest in quantum dots (QD) due to the ability to "fine tune" the size and materials used in QD production. QD's are nanostructured particles having specific size and shape. These can be controlled during synthesis by varying the temperature and reaction time. Most QD syntheses are performed under a high vacuum and high temperatures (250 to 500 „aC).2 Few attempts have been made to synthesize QD's at atmospheric pressure and lower temperatures due to the relatively large particles produced.

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) QD solutions were prepared according to literature methods.3 This particular synthesis allows for a QD solution to be synthesized under atmospheric pressure and at lower temperatures (approx. 225¢XC). UV-Vis and Fluorescence spectroscopy was employed to characterize the resulting solutions containing the QD's. These solutions were then analyzed using Raman spectroscopy in an attempt to characterize the QD's. Results showed that varying reaction time produces QD's of various sizes that can be characterized using Raman spectroscopy.

1. Jun, Y., et. al. Chem. Commun., 2000, 1243-1244 2. Yoon, J., et. al. Materials Letters. 2005, 59, 1430-1433 3. Boatman, E., Lisensky, G. J. Chem Educ. 2005, 82, 1697-1699