Aqueous synthesis of color-tunable and stable Mn2+-doped ZnSe quantum dots

The aqueous synthesis of color-tunable and stable Mn2+-doped ZnSe quantum dots (Mn:ZnSe d-dots) via a nucleation-doping strategy was realized in a three-necked flask and the photoluminescence (PL) peak position was easily tuned from 572 nm to 602 nm by prolonging the epitaxial-growthg time. The chemical stability of the resulting d-dots is much better than that of CdTe via an aqueous synthesis. Separation of nucleation and growth of crystallization, and multiple-step-injection of both zinc precursor and 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) stabilizing reagent, were employed to realize a balanced, mutually diffused interface and a pure ZnSe shell. The resulting nanocrystals show excellent optical properties, implying that nanocrystals with high quality could also be achieved via aqueous synthesis.