Synthesis and Optical Properties of Water-Soluble CdTe:Zn2+ Quantum Dots Prepared by the One-Pot Approach

José Sousa,Jefferson Ferrari,Marco Schiavon,Marcelo Vivas

doi:10.21577/0103-5053.20180128

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of ternary CdTe:Zn2+ quantum dots (QDs) passivated with reduced L-glutathione (GSH) dispersed in water. The synthesis was performed through a one-pot approach and their size-dependent optical properties were investigated through steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopies along with the evolving factor analysis/multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (EFA/MCR-ALS) method. Our results show that the incorporation of Zn2+ ions in CdTe:Zn2+ QDs, during the synthesis time, decreases the CdTe:Zn2+ QDs predominant diameter in the ensemble and increases their size dispersion. In addition, fluorescence quantum yield measurements suggest a reduction in the number of surface defects in CdTe:Zn2+ QDs as compared with CdTe QDs, when both are produced from the same synthesis route.

Highlights

In the last few decades, nanostructured materials, such as fullerenes, nanotubes, nanoribbons, nanowires and nanocrystals (NCs), have attracted great attention due to their remarkable optical and electronic properties
Our results indicate that there is a reduction in the number of surface defects in CdTe-GSH and (CdTe):Zn2+ quantum dots (QDs) as compared with CdTe QDs produced from the same synthesis route
The same result was found in Wang et al.[28] and, according to them, the diameters obtained through the high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) are consistent with the results obtained from Yu’s formula for CdTe QDs.[35]

Summary

Introduction

In the last few decades, nanostructured materials, such as fullerenes, nanotubes, nanoribbons, nanowires and nanocrystals (NCs), have attracted great attention due to their remarkable optical and electronic properties. Our results pointed out that with the incorporation of Zn2+ ions in CdTe:Zn2+ QDs the QD predominant diameter in the ensemble decreases and their size dispersion concomitantly increases.

Results

Conclusion