Photoluminescence enhancement in CdS quantum dots by thermal annealing

The photoluminescence behavior of CdS quantum dots in initial growth stage was studied in connection with an annealing process. Compared to the as-synthesized CdS quantum dots (quantum efficiency a parts per thousand...aEuro parts per thousand 1%), the heat-treated sample showed enhanced luminescence properties (quantum efficiency a parts per thousand...aEuro parts per thousand 29%) with a narrow band-edge emission. The simple annealing process diminished the accumulated defect states within the nanoparticles and thereby reduced the nonradiative recombination, which was confirmed by diffraction, absorption, and time-resolved photoluminescence. Consequently, the highly luminescent and defect-free nanoparticles were obtained by a facile and straightforward process.