Green Synthesis and Characterization of Cadmium-Tellurium Quantum Dots Using Pomelo Peel Aqueous Extract

Abstract

Quantum dots finds wide applications in optoelectronics due to their notable fluorescence property. In the present work, cadmium tellurium was synthesized in a green synthesis process using waste pomelo peel extract. The synthesized quantum dots were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis in order to distinguish its properties for optical applications. The presence of a functional group including carboxyl, amine and hydroxyl groups was identified using FT-IR spectroscopy. The size of quantum dots was found to be 6.68 nm and the mono-dispersion pattern of the synthesized quantum dots was distinguished using selected area electron diffraction pattern. The crystalline structure of the synthesized quantum dots was confirmed by XRD with an average size of 4–6 nm. The change in blue shift at 392 nm was confirmed primarily by UV–visible. The transition nature of the synthesized quantum dots was studied with the binding energy of 532 eV by XPS analysis. The influence of temperature with respect to mass change of 29.4% was observed at 300°C.