Epitaxial growth of colloidal hydrophilic lattice matched HgTe/CdTe core/shell nanocrystals for UV luminescence

► The HgTe/CdTe core/shell nanostructures show intense UV emission. ► Core/shells nanocomposites do not show any alloying effect at the HgTe/CdTe interface. ► Raman phonon modes depend upon both the crystalline size and compressive stress. ► The HgTe/CdTe nanocomposites show both excitonic absorption and emission.