Development of highly luminescent and color-tunable Zn1-xPmxTe QDs synthesized using 4,4-bis-N-1-naphyl-N-phenylaminobiphenyl assisted microwave technique for solar cell applications

A new family based on the synthesis of highly luminescent and color-tunable Zn1-xPmxTe QDs using 4,4-bis-N-1-naphyl-N-phenylaminobiphenyl assisted microwave technique. This new series of Zn1-xPmxTe QDs showed remarkable optoelectronic properties. The promethium ions exhibited a modulating of the bandgap of ZnTe Qs, where the bandgap reduced from 3.06 eV to 2.8 eV and the particle size changed from 1.4 nm to 4.3 nm. The promethium ions created trap levels within the ZnTe bandgap which leads to highly luminescent emission spectra exceeded the undoped ZnTe QD by 5 times. The inclusion of promethium ions in ZnTe QDs resulted in color tunable QDs in the visible region. The quantum yield of the Zn1-xPmxTe QDs increased 7%-82%, according to the amounts of promethium ions incorporate ZnTe QDs. Therefore. The developed Zn1-xPmxTe QDs are promising candidate for photovoltaic devices.