Synthesis and photophysical studies of CdTe quantum dot-monosubstituted zinc phthalocyanine conjugates

► Unsymmetrically monosubstituted 4-aminophenoxy zinc phthalocyanine (ZnAPPc, 5) is synthesized. ► Compound 5 is linked to CdTe quantum dots capped with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), l-cysteine (l-cys) or thioglycolic acid (TGA). ► Through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), there is stimulated emission of ZnAPPc in the presence of MPA capped CdTe QDs. ► Fluorescence quantum yields of CdTe QDs were decreased in the presence of compound 5.