A green luminescent MoS₂-CdTe hybrid nanostructure synthesized through surface charge interaction

During the last few years, intensive research has been carried out on the synthesis of different hybrid nanostructures mostly using hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques. But the fabrication of the hybrid nanostructure through surface charge interaction of the individual components is comparatively less explored. Here in this work, a hybrid nanostructure based on MoS₂ and CdTe quantum dots is synthesized through a simple surface charge interaction process using the negative surface charge of the excess sulfide ions (S^2-) present at the edge of the MoS₂ QDs and positively charged CdTe QDs where the positive surface charge was induced in CdTe by using a cysteamine ligand in acidic medium. In the photoluminescence (PL) emission spectrum, a new peak is observed which is different from those of both of the individual components. Interestingly, with increasing the concentration of CdTe QDs during the preparation of the hybrid nano-structure, the peak of hybrid QDs is gradually blue shifted towards the emission of MoS₂ QDs. The maximum blue shift occurs up to 1 : 1 (v/v) ratio of MoS₂ : CdTe as in this concentration ratio all S^2- ions are neutralized by -NH₃ ⁺. This new emission occurs from a newly generated hybrid energy level. The energy level positions of the two different QDs along with the hybrid ones are estimated via cyclic voltammetry and absorption experiments.