Optical properties of CdS and CdS/ZnS quantum dots synthesized by reverse micelle method

The CdS and CdS/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots have been synthesized by reverse micelle method using sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) surfactant agent. The quantum dot diameter is about 2.5 to 4 nm depending on the concentration of the surfactant agent. It is interesting that, in contrast to other colloidal methods, the size of quantum dots does not depend on the growth time. The absorption spectra of CdS quantum dots show the narrow size distribution. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra include two bands, the intrinsic emission of CdS nanocrystals and the emission of surface states. There is noticeable increase of the PL intensity and subsequent photostability of CdS/ZnS core-shell quantum dots in comparison with CdS quantum dots without the ZnS shell.