Preparation of late transition metal selenides with different morphologies in ethylenediamine

A series of late transition metal selenides were prepared within 180°C in ethylenediamine. Both anhydrous and hydrous starting materials could be used as long as the reducing oxalates were involved. As-prepared FeSe2, CoSe2, NiSe2, and Cu2−xSe crystallites were rod-like, disc-like, octahedral, and plate-like, respectively. Sulfides and tellurides of these late transition metals with different morphologies may also be synthesized by this preparative method.