An Enhanced Luminescent CdTe/ZnS Core-Shell Quantum Dot: Synthesis, Characterization, and its Optical Properties

Abstract

The core-shell CdTe/ZnS quantum dots were prepared with an improved process in aqueous phase. CdTe QDs were synthesized under conditions of pH 9.1, 96 °C, refluxing for 5h, and which was used as core material; ZnS was formed as shell material to enhance the optical properties. Optical properties were characterized with fluorescence spectrum (FS), and morphology of QDs was investigated via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method. Moreover, composition and formation of CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs was characterized via x-ray diffraction (XRD) method. Optimum conditions were investigated to obtain the qualified CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs, the results indicated QDs with high quantum yields and fluorescence intensity were achieved under conditions of pH 9.0, 45 °C, refluxing for 1h, and v/v/v ratio of CdTe/Na2S/ZnSO4 is 4/1/1. The TEM data indicated that average size of 5 nm CdTe core was prepared, and CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs with average size of 11 nm were achieved under the optimum conditions. ca 30nm of red shift of a maximum emission wavelength from ca 530 nm (CdTe) to 560 nm (CdTe/ZnS) was observed via FS under the optimum conditions, which inferred the growth of QDs and formation of ZnS shells. Furthermore, the enhanced fluorescence intensity of CdTe/ZnS core-shell QDs was detected and over two times of fluorescence intensity was increased after formation of ZnS shell. The obtained QDs will have great potential application in biological researches and biosensing system based on fluorescence resonance energy transition (FRET).

The Photophysical Properties of CdTe/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

“…This investigation focuses on the effect of shell thickness on a full range of optical properties including absorption, emission, fluorescence lifetime, quantum yield, and photostability. This fills an important need in core/shell QD research as there have been few reports of this kind of broad optical study (Xu et al, 2011).…”