Enhancement of emission characteristics of cadmium-free ZCIS/ZnS/SiO2 quantum dots by Au nanoparticles

The resonant coupling between cadmium-free I-III-VI2 group quantum dots (QDs) and metal nanostructures has been investigated. Via a SiO2-packaging synthetic procedure, the emission intensity of green ZCIS/ZnS QDs can be greatly enhanced by three times through the localized surface plasmon of Au nanoparticles. Moreover, the bandwidth of the emission spectrum can be narrowed by 17 nm, and the resultant quantum yield is more than 50% which sets up the highest reported value up today for green I-III-VI2 QDs. Our strategy for the improved characteristics of emission spectrum may open a facile alternative for the development of cadmium-free QD light emitting diodes and other optoelectronic devices.