Light emission from CdSe quantum dot and ZnO nanorod hybrid structures

Light-emitting CdSe quantum dot (QD) - ZnO nanorod (NR) hybrid structures were fabricated via wet chemical methods. Structural investigations indicated that the nano-sized CdSe QDs were formed on the ZnO NRs. Optical investigations showed that the energy band gap of the CdSe QDs was changed by varying the number of deposition cycles of CdSe due to the quantum confinement effect. The emissions from the hybrid structures depended on the existence of an Al₂O₃ shell layer on the ZnO NRs, which acted as an electrical barrier layer blocking charge carrier losses from the CdSe QDs to the ZnO NRs.