Synthesis of Zn1-xCdxS:Mn/ZnS quantum dots and their application to light-emitting diodes

3.6 nm sized Mn-doped Zn1-xCdxS quantum dots (QDs) with the composition (x) of 1, 0.5, 0.2 and 0 were synthesized by a reverse micelle approach. The bandgap energy of Zn1-xCdxS:Mn QDs was tuned to a higher energy by increasing the Zn content, and the actual composition of alloyed Zn1-xCdxS:Mn QDs was found to be different from the solution composition. Consecutive overcoating of the Zn1-xCdxS:Mn QD surface by a ZnS shell was done, and the core/shell structured QDs exhibited quantum yields of 14-30%, depending on the composition of the core QDs. Using CdS:Mn/ZnS QDs, orange and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) pumped by a near-UV and blue LED chips, respectively, were fabricated and their optical properties are described.