Enhancement of the photoluminescence in CdSe quantum dot-polyvinyl alcohol composite by light irradiation

► The effect of photo-induced enhancement of deep trap photoluminescence (PL) of quantum dots (QDs) is found. ► The effect is observed in the CdSe QDs embedded in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film. ► The effect is caused by the increase of the activation energy of the PL thermal quenching. ► The effect is ascribed to change of QD surface defect passivation caused by photochemical transformations at the QD/PVA interface.