Fabrication of CdTe QD-rGO composites with different linkers for controlling charge separation and recombination

The composites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and aqueous CdTe QDs were fabricated through controlling cross linker molecules (e.g. 1-pyrene carboxylic acid and polyaniline (PANI)). The thioglycolic acid (TGA) ligands on the QDs were removed when 1-pyrene carboxylic acid was used as linkers. In contrast. The TGA was retained on the QDs in the case of PANI as linkers. Because green- and red-emitting CdTe QDs have different surface states, the PL properties of the QDs changed in the heterostructure. The charge separation and recombination in PL process was controlled by the component and structure of the composite.