Strongly photoluminescent CdTe nanocrystals by proper surface modification

CdTe nanoclusters were prepared in aqueous solution by the reaction between Cd2+ and NaHTe in the presence of thioglycolic acid. Under reflux, the clusters start to crystallize and show a narrow band emission. The photoluminescence efficiency of CdTe nanocrystals strongly depends on the pH value of the colloidal solution. The maximum quantum yield at room temperature is approximately 18% when the pH value of the CdTe solution is brought to 4.5 by using thioglycolic acid. The optical spectroscopy studies imply that the pH-dependent behavior of the CdTe nanocrystals' fluorescence is caused by structural changes on the surface rather than the size of the nanocrystals. Systematic absorption and fluorescence studies on dialyzed samples suggest that in the acidic range a shell of cadmium thiol complexes is formed around the CdTe core. Thus, the fluorescence quantum yield is enhanced dramatically when the solution is made acidic. In contrast, such a shell can also be produced in the alkaline range, but only after the CdTe nanocrystal crude solution is purified by dialysis.