Highly Luminescent CdSe/ZnSe Core/Shell Nanocrystals of Low Size Dispersion

Abstract

A simple synthetic route for the preparation of high-quality CdSe/ZnSe core/shell nanocrystals without the use of any pyrophoric organometallic precursors is presented. Effective surface passivation of monodisperse CdSe nanocrystals is achieved by overcoating them with a ZnSe shell, applying zinc stearate as a zinc source. The resulting core/shell nanocrystals exhibit high room temperature photoluminescence efficiencies (60−85%) in organic solvents as well as in water after functionalization with mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA).