Aqueous synthesis of type-II CdTe/CdSe core–shell quantum dots for fluorescent probe labeling tumor cells

In this paper, we report a two-step aqueous synthesis of highly luminescent CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots (QDs) via a simple method. The emission range of the CdTe/CdSe QDs can be tuned from 510 to 640 nm by controlling the thickness of the CdSe shell. Accordingly, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of CdTe/CdSe QDs with an optimized thickness of the CdSe shell can reach up to 40%. The structures and compositions of the core/shell QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, and their formation mechanism is discussed. Furthermore, folate conjugated CdTe/CdSe QDs in Hela cells were assessed with a fluorescence microscope. The results show that folate conjugated CdTe/CdSe QDs could enter tumor cells efficiently.