Unveiling the potential of alloyed core/double shell InZnP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots: High quantum efficiency and stable water splitting performance

Economic and environment friendly synthesis of Cd-free core shell QDs has gained significant attention in the field of display devices and lighting applications. To amend the bottle neck of toxicity and to demonstrate the efficiency of metal chalcogenides-based systems, synthesis of high quantum efficiency QDs of InZnP/ZnSe/ZnS was targeted in the present work and achieved through two step optimization approach. To begin with, effect of temperature on core growth was optimized. Results delineate that high quantum efficiency was achieved at a precise core growth temperature of 190 °C. In addition to this, shell growth time preferential at 190 °C was derived in the second step, studies demonstrate that, a record quantum yield (PL QY) up to 95% was achieved with the 30-min shell growth time. Consecutive PEC studies evident the bifunctional HER and OER capabilities of as-prepared QDs. ST-3 shows an exceptional outcome of 8.25 mA/cm² (1 V vs RHE) as a photocathode, and 1.45 mA/cm² (2 V vs RHE) as a photo-anode. Detailed synthesis protocol and developed alloyed core/double-shell InZnP/ZnSe/ZnS red QDs with tunable emission across the visible spectrum give a notable insight for future studies in the fields of robust and sustainable optoelectronic applications.