Tunable emission properties of CdSe/CdS quantum dots by Ce doping

A facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis to prepare cerium (Ce 3+ ) ion doped CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) is introduced. The effect of Ce 3+ ion doping on structural and optical properties of the CdSe/CdS core/shell QDs is comprehensively investigated. With increasing Ce doping concentration, a linear increase in the lattice parameter is observed, suggesting the successful coupling of Ce 3+ ions to the CdSe/CdS QDs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals strong peaks of the Ce 3+ state, indicating that Ce is initially present mainly in the Ce 3+ ion state. In addition, red-shift over the range 538–569 nm is observed in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Ce 3+ ion doped CdSe/CdS QDs. Results clearly indicates that the PL peak positions of the CdSe/CdS QDs could be controlled by the Ce content. This study highlights a new approach to tune the emission of the QDs.