Time controlled growth of CdSe QDs for applications in white light emitting diodes

Abstract

Semiconductor nanophosphors have the exceptional resources to demonstrate the quantum phenomenon due to their tailored-size dependent photoluminescence (PL). The work here is focused on the synthesis of highly luminescent Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) Quantum Dots (QDs) by a simple technique. This is a time dependent process where change in the size of CdSe QDs was observed at a reaction temperature of 100 °C without any inert atmosphere. The CdSe QDs were synthesised by using 3-Mercapto propionic acid (MPA) rather than using the typically utilized capping agent. All the samples were characterised for their optical properties. The size of QDs was calculated in a range up to 3 nm by UV–Vis Spectroscopy and confirmed by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). It was clear from the UV studies that QDs exhibit size dependent tunable optical absorption. The broad Photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra depicts the presence of surface defects produced along with band edge spectrum. The absorbance and emission spectra were shifted to the red region due to the quantum confinement effect occurred in QDs. The water soluble QDs were economical and easy to fabricate has applications in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).