Controlled self-assembly of hydrophobic quantum dots through silanization

► Hydrophobic QDs were assembled into nanocomposites by silanization. ► The silanization was carried out by using partially hydrolyzed silicon alkoxide. ► The nanocomposites with solid or hollow spherical, ring-like, fiber-like, sheet-like, and pearl-like morphologies. ► The nanocomposites retained high photoluminescence efficiency (maximum ∼ 50%).