Luminescent properties of CdTe quantum dots synthesized using 3-mercaptopropionic acid reduction of tellurium dioxide directly

Mao Shen,Fang Li,Jian Li,Yujing You,Wenping Jia,Shidong Tian,Deman Han,Yan Hu,Yanxian Jin

doi:10.1186/1556-276x-8-253

Abstract

A facile one-step synthesis of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution by atmospheric microwave reactor has been developed using 3-mercaptopropionic acid reduction of TeO2 directly. The obtained CdTe QDs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, multifunctional imaging electron spectrometer (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Green- to red-emitting CdTe QDs with a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield of 56.68% were obtained.

Highlights

In recent years, water-soluble CdTe luminescent quantum dots (QDs) have been used in various medical and biological imaging applications because their optical properties are considered to be superior to those of organic dyes [1,2,3,4]
TeO2 was explored as the Te source for synthesis of CdTe QDs, but the reduction of TeO2 by NaBH4 in ambient conditions requires a long reaction time and produces a black precipitate of CdTeO3 [16,17,18,19,20]
We proposed a new facile synthetic approach for preparing CdTe QDs with tellurium dioxide as a tellurium source. 3-mercaptopropionic acid was explored as both reductant for the reduction of TeO2 and

Summary

Background

Water-soluble CdTe luminescent quantum dots (QDs) have been used in various medical and biological imaging applications because their optical properties are considered to be superior to those of organic dyes [1,2,3,4]. Even though Na2TeO3 as an alternative tellurium source can be used for preparing CdTe QDs [11,12,13,14,15], it is toxic and expensive. It is very necessary to hunt for a novel tellurium source for the synthesis of CdTe QDs. Compared with Na2TeO3, TeO2 has the same oxidation state of Te and is stable, cheap, and less toxic. TeO2 was explored as the Te source for synthesis of CdTe QDs, but the reduction of TeO2 by NaBH4 in ambient conditions requires a long reaction time and produces a black precipitate of CdTeO3 [16,17,18,19,20]. We proposed a new facile synthetic approach for preparing CdTe QDs with tellurium dioxide as a tellurium source. 3-mercaptopropionic acid was explored as both reductant for the reduction of TeO2 and

Methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions

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