Electrosynthesis and characterization of alloyed CdSxSe1−x ternary quantum dots

CdS, CdSe and CdSxSe1−x (x = 0.15, 0.35, 0.5, 0.65, 0.85) ternary quantum dots (QDs) were electrosynthesized in a cavity cell and aqueous medium, using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as stabilizer. The electrochemical procedure was carried out by a paired electrolysis, where elemental sulfur and selenium were reduced in a graphite powder macroelectrode while a sacrificial cadmium rod was oxidized, giving the simultaneous generation of S2-, Se2- and Cd2+ ions for efficient production of the ternary QDs, in the S2-/Se2- ratio of choice. The CdSxSe1−x QDs were characterized by XRD, HRTEM, UV-Vis absorption and emission spectroscopies, and voltammetric analyses. XRD analysis showed lattice parameters of the cubic CdSxSe1−x nanoalloys with a linear drop tendency when the sulfide molar ratio increased in the crystalline structure. HRTEM analysis was used to determine nanoparticle sizes: 3.94 ± 0.70 nm (CdS), 4.23 ± 1.00 nm (CdS0.5Se0.5), and 4.12 ± 0.78 nm (CdSe), with interplanar distances of 0.348 nm, 0.341 nm, and 0.339 nm, respectively. The band gap energy (Eg opt) of the CdSxSe1−x QDs were determined by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy: 2.42, 2.47, 2.53, 2.66, 2.63, 2.73 and 2.84 eV, respectively, showing a linear increasing according to the S2-/Se2- ratio. The same behavior was observed for the Eg Elect determined by cyclic and linear voltammetry analysis, presenting a nanoalloy nature of the ternary QDs electrosynthesized.