Abstract:
Synthesis of fluorescent alloyed quantum dots (QDs) with unique optical properties
suitable for a wide array of chemical, physical and biological applications is of
research interest. In this work, highly luminescent and photostable alloyed
quaternary CdSeTeS core QDs of two different sizes were fabricated via the
organometallic hot-injection synthetic route. Characterization of the nanocrystals
were performed using TEM, XRD, UV/vis and fluorescence spectrophotometric
techniques. We have demonstrated in this work that the well fabricated alloyed
quaternary CdSeTeS core QDs possess unique optical properties that are
advantageous over conventional core/shell systems. Formation of the CdSeTeS/ZnS
core/shell with the desired optical properties comes with a number of challenges,
hence the advantages of the quaternary alloyed core over the core/shell QDs are (i)
avoidance of the challenging process of determining the proper shell thickness
which can provide the desired optical properties in the core/shell system and (ii)
avoidance of the lattice-induced mismatch between the core and the shell material
which can either lead to incomplete exciton confinement or dislocation at the
core/shell interface.
