Luminescent behavior of CdTe quantum dots: Neodymium(III) complex-capped nanoparticles

A water soluble complex of neodymium(III) with CdTe quantum dots nanoparticles was synthesized. The obtained homogeneous solutions were characterized by fluorescence, X-ray photoelectron and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopies. The effect of the refluxing time of the reaction on the fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength has been studied. It was found that the emission wavelength of the solutions of neodymium(III) complex capped CdTe QDs nanoparticles shifted from about 540 to 735 nm. For an emission wavelength of 668 nm, the most reproducible nanoparticles obtained, the pH effect over the fluorescence emission and its intensity were studied. The purified and lyophilized solid obtained was morphologically characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The quantitative composition was determined by fluorescence X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and the X-ray photoelectron analysis (XPS) confirmed the presence of neodymium(III) at the surface of the CdTe nanoparticles forming a complex with the carboxylate groups from 3-mercaptopropanoic acid of the CdTe QDs. Due to the optical behavior of this complex, it could be of potential interest as a light source in optical devices.