A novel silica-coated multiwall carbon nanotube with CdTe quantum dots nanocomposite

A novel silica-coated multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNTs) with CdTe quantum dots nanocomposite was synthesized in this paper. Here, we show the in situ growth of crystalline CdTe quantum dots on the surfaces of oxidized MWNTs. The approach proposed herein differs from previous attempts to synthesize nanotube assemblies in that we mix the oxidized MWNTs into CdCl2 solution of CdTe nanocrystals synthesized in aqueous solution. Reinforced the QD-MWNTs heterostructures with silica coating, this method is not invasive and does not introduce defects to the structure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and it ensures high stability in a range of organic solvents. Furthermore, a narrow SiO2 layer on the MWNT-CdTe heterostructures can eliminate the biological toxicity of quantum dots and carbon nanotubes. This is not only a breakthrough in the synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructures, but also taking new elements into bio-nanotechnology. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.