Aqueous synthesis of thioglycollic acid-capped Tb³⁺-doped cadmium sulfur quantum dots

Cadmium sulfur nanocrystals doped with the rare earth ion Tb3+were synthesized using an easy aqueous method. Powder X-ray diffraction was used for the crystallography analysis of the nanocrystals. Results showed that cadmium sulfur: Tb3+quantum dots had a cubic crystal structure. Effects of the pH of the original solution and Tb3+-dopant amount on luminescence properties of cadmium sulfur quantum dots were also systematically investigated. The luminescence properties of cadmium sulfur quantum dots were further improved using an appropriate Tb3+-dopant amount.