Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Colloidal CdS and ZnS−CdS Quantum Dots and Improvement of Their Photoluminescence Properties

Abstract

Thin films of colloidal CdS and ZnS−CdS alloy quantum dots (QDs) were fabricated by layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly to synthesize blue luminescent QD thin films. The assembly of negatively charged colloidal QDs and positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) results in QD/polymer multilayers. The relative intensity of the band-edge photoluminescence (PL) to that of the defect-related PL was decreased during the LBL assembly process. With an additional dipping treatment in a Cd(ClO4)2 aqueous solution with pH 10, the band-edge PL intensity was recovered. The PL decay profiles before and after the dipping treatment were considerably different. From this fact, we conclude that the enhancement of the band-edge PL intensity originates from the reduction of nonradiative recombination processes at the QD surface.