Preparation of thermally stable well-dispersed water-soluble CdTe quantum dots in montmorillonite clay host media

► Water soluble CdTe QDs was well dispersed in montmorillonite clay to produce QDs/clay powder using frozen dryer. ► CdTe QDs dispersed in the clay particles duo to the charge. ► The QDs/clay powder can be dispersed in water without changing the fluorescent property. ► QDs/clay powder was used to prepare the fluorescent thin film by extrusion without sacrificing the optical property.