CdP/ZnP Core-Shell Nanocrystals: Synthesis and Optical Properties.

II-V semiconductor nanocrystals such as CdP and ZnP have enormous potential as materials in next-generation optoelectronic devices requiring active optical properties across the visible and infrared range. To date, this potential has been unfulfilled due to their inherent instability with respect to air and moisture. Core-shell system CdP/ZnP is synthesized and studied from structural (morphology, crystallinity, shell diameter), chemical (composition of core, shell, and ligand sphere), and optical perspectives (absorbance, emission-steady state and time resolved, quantum yield, and air stability). The improvements achieved by coating with ZnP are likely due to its identical crystal structure to CdP (tetragonal), highlighting the key role crystallographic concerns play in creating cutting edge core-shell NCs.