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High size dispersion, large average radius of quantum dot and low-volume ratio has been a major hurdle in the development of quantum dot based devices. In the present paper, we have grown CdTe quantum dots in a borosilicate glass matrix using a two-step annealing method. Results of optical characterization and the theoretical model of absorption spectra have shown that quantum dots grown using two-step annealing have lower average radius, lesser size dispersion, higher volume ratio and higher decrease in bulk free energy as compared to quantum dots grown conventionally.

Thin films of copper (Cu)-doped CdSe are prepared by the physical vapor deposition technique. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the films crystallize in hexagonal structure with (100) as the preferred orientation. Scanning electron microscope studies reveal that the grains are spherical in shape and uniformly distributed all over the surface of the substrates. The transport properties of Cu-doped CdSe thin films have been investigated by the time-of-flight measurement, steady-state photocarrier grating and steady-state photoconductivity techniques. The temperature dependence of dark conductivity and photoconductivity data reflects the existence of two independent donor energy levels. The bimolecular recombination nature of the thin films has been found from the photocurrent-illumination dependence at different applied voltages. The minority carrier diffusion length (Ldiff) is obtained both from the best fit of the experimental photocurrent ratio ? versus grating period (?) and from the ?Balberg plot?. A straight line has been obtained from the best fit, which confirms that the measured length is the ambipolar diffusion length.