Aselenide is a chemical compound containing aselenium withoxidation number of −2. Similar tosulfide, selenides occur both as inorganic compounds and as organic derivatives, which are calledorganoselenium compound.
The parent inorganic selenide ishydrogen selenide (H2Se). It is a colorless, malodorous, toxic gas. It dissolves inaqueous solution, to give the hydrogenselenide or biselenide ion HSe−. At higher pH, selenide forms. Solutions of hydrogen selenide and selenide are oxidized by air to give elemental selenium:
Most elements form selenides. They sometimes have salt-like properties, e.g.sodium selenide, but most exhibit covalent bonding, e.g.molybdenum diselenide. Their properties are diverse, mirroring the diverse properties of the corresponding sulfides.
As indicated by the fact that only a few thousand tons of selenium are produced annually, the subset of selenium compounds called selenides find few applications. Commercially significant iszinc selenide, which is used in some infrared optics.Cadmium selenide is apigment but its use has been declining because of environmental considerations.Copper indium selenide (CuInSe2) has attractive potential for photovoltaic devices, but these applications have not been implemented widely.[1] Similarly,quantum dots based on metal selenides have been extensively investigated for their distinctive spectral properties.[2] Core-shell alloys ofcadmium sulfide and selenide are of interest in imaging andphototherapy.[3]
Manyselenide minerals are known. Usually selenium partiallysubstitutes for sulfide in manysulfide minerals. The degree of substitution is only of commercial interest for copper sulfide ores, in which case selenium is recovered as a by-product of copper refining. Some selenide minerals includeferroselite andumangite[1]
Selenides are common in organic chemistry. They have two Se-C bonds, akin to organic sulfides. Examples includedimethyl selenide,selenomethionine, andSe-methylselenocysteine. Such compounds have few applications.
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