Influence of annealing on composition and optical properties of CdTe nanoparticle layer-by-layer films

CdTe nanoparticle-polymer composite films were deposited conformally using a layer-by-layer (LbL) process onto planar or ZnO nanorod-coated substrates. Films were annealed between 150-450 degrees C. Under air this led to oxidation of the nanoparticles while under vacuum their composition was retained. Annealing at 450 degrees C led to complete removal of the polymer with a loss of quantum confinement as shown by UV-vis spectroscopy. Annealing at 350 degrees C gave partial removal of the polymer and retained quantum confinement. Such annealed nanoparticle composite systems may have application in photovoltaics.