Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of high-quality CdSe quantum dot in liquid paraffin

High-quality cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesised in liquid paraffin with a mixture of octadecylamine and trioctylphosphine oxide as stabilising ligands. The synthesised CdSe QDs were characterised by ultraviolet-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction techniques. Compared with CdSe QDs synthesised in liquid paraffin stabilising with only oleic acid, CdSe QDs synthesised by this new route possess higher quantum yields, more symmetric and narrower emission spectra. The new route enables us to achieve high-quality CdSe QDs in less expensive solvent, liquid paraffin.