Influence of pH on luminescence from water-soluble colloidal Mn-doped ZnSe quantum dots capped with different mercaptoacids

► Prepared ZnSe:Mn/ZnS quantum dots capped with different mercaptoacids in water. ► Photoluminescence intensity of ZnSe:Mn/ZnS quantum dots varied with pH. ► Character of luminescence variations depends on the sort of mercaptoacid capping. ► Competition between different excitonic relaxation channels for different caps.