Stable and water-soluble CdTe@SiO2 composite nanospheres: Preparation, characterization and application in LED

CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent nanospheres were synthesized by heating reflux method. Infrared spectra support the structural formation mechanism of the CdTe@SiO2 composite nanospheres. The CdTe@SiO2 composite nanospheres were characterized by means of SEM, TEM, IR, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, fluorescence spectra and electroluminescence spectra, etc. It was found that both pH value and reflux time played important roles in growth and quantum yield of CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent nanospheres. CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent nanospheres were fabricated to be a single electrode light-emitting diode prototype. The electroluminescence spectra and Commission International de L’Eclairage remained almost the same over a range of operation voltages, and it meant the light-emitting diodes had better color stability. So CdTe@SiO2 fluorescent nanospheres could provide a potential application in light-emitting diode.