Synthesis of Silica Encapsulated ZnSe Quantum Dots by Microemulsion Method

Abstract

Silica-encapsulated ZnSe quandum dots (QDs) were obtained by employing di-2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) microemulsion methods. When the QDs were coated by silica, well-defined spherical shapes were formed and the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency was decreased from 4.9% to 1.9% with increasing water content W (W = [H2O]/[AOT]). In addition, ZnSe QDs showed the good photostability. The present method does not require a hot reaction temperature or extremely toxic H2Se gas as a Se precursor. Moreover, they are cadmium free and less toxic. Therefore, the present method can be a safer and more economical method for obtaining the silica-encapsulated ZnSe QDs, which may be a potential material for Light-Emitting Diode (LED), solar cell, and biosensors.