In situ synthesis of CdSe quantum dots in polymer gels and their optical properties

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Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have tunable optical properties with high quantum yields, making them excellent materials for bioimaging, photovoltaics, display, and photodevice applications. Herein, we demonstrate in situ synthesis of CdSe QDs in poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). CdSe QDs can be directly formed by immersing PDADMAC and PVP gels in Se and Cd solutions under mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and air atmosphere). CdSe QDs formed in PDADMAC have a broad photoluminescence (PL) band with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) exceeding 100 nm, whereas CdSe QDs formed in PVP exhibit a PL spectrum comprising a sharp green emission at a peak wavelength of 529 nm with a FWHM of 38 nm. The emission wavelength of the CdSe QDs incorporated into PVP can be successfully tuned by changing the synthesis temperature. The formation mechanisms of CdSe QDs in PDADMAC and PVP gels are also discussed.