Covalent Coupling of Quantum Dots to Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Electronic Device Applications

Abstract

We report the controlled synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotube−quantum dot (CNT-QD) heterojunctions using the ethylene carbodiimide coupling procedure (EDC). Thiol-stabilized ZnS-capped CdSe quantum dots containing amine terminal groups (QD−NH2) were conjugated with acid-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) ranging from 400 nm to 4 μm in length. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the conjugation process.