ZnS:Ag/CdS: a new family of color-tunable quantum dots

ZnS:Ag/CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized by a reverse micelle process under ambient environment. Excited by 350 nm, the emission peak of ZnS:Ag/CdS QDs changes from 425 to 625 nm with increasing the thickness of CdS shells. Although the quantum yields of QDs decrease with CdS shells thickening, the luminescent brightness remains stable throughout. Compared with the traditional color-tunable CdSe QDs, the synthesis of ZnS:Ag/CdS QDs is less toxic and more economic. Therefore, this synthesis process can be regarded as an efficient way to fabricate a series of luminescent nanostructures for a variety of applications.