A facile synthesis method to silica coated CdSe/ZnS nanocomposites with tuneable size and optical properties

A facile method for the preparation of single Quantum Dots (QDs) in silica spheres with tunable size and optical property has been developed. A time interval addition of silica precursor method has been used to increase the size of the silica shell and in parallel tuning the photoluminescence property. The resulting CdSe/ZnS/SiO2 nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and zeta-potential measurements. Since for different applications of silica coated core–shell nanoparticles, control over the thickness of the shell in parallel with tuning on the optical property of the final product required, these study could pave the way for the application of this nanocomposites in different fields like photonic crystals, biolabeling, etc.

Graphical abstractA time interval addition of silica precursor technique has been used to increase the size of the silica shell and in parallel tuning the photoluminescence property.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (57 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Synthesis of nanocomposites with tuneable size and optical properties. ► Silica encapsulation and tuning thickness of shell via in situ and one-pot method. ► A gradual blue shift in the photoluminescence with the addition of more TEOS. ► Dramatically change of luminescence property with different silica precursor.