Photochemical synthesis, investigation of optical properties and photocatalytic activity of CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots

ABSTRACT

In this work, CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesised via simple, rapid, one-pot and low temperature photochemical approach. Synthesised QDs were characterised by means of XRD, EDS, Raman measurements, FESEM and TEM imaging, FT-IR, UV–Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. It was inferred that the growth of CdSe shell around CdTe quantum dots resulted in the formation of a type II core/shell structure and enhancement of the PL quantum efficiency from 23% to 48%. CdTe core quantum dots indicate a narrow green photoluminescence with an emission summit at about 535 nm that after the CdSe shell growth, it is shifted to 605 nm. Photocatalytic activity of CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots was studied using Methylene Blue and Methylene Orange as pollutant targets and results indicate a better photo degradation of Methylene Blue rather than Methylene Orange.

KEYWORDS:

• CdTe/CdSe
• core/shell
• optical properties
• quantum dots
• QDs

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Iran National Science Foundation (INSF).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Iran National Science Foundation [99014058].