Structural and Optical Properties of NiO/ZnS Core–Shell Nanostructures for Efficient Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as promising candidates for optoelectronic devices. In particular, quantum dot light-emitting devices (QLEDs) utilizing QDs as the emission layer offer advantages in terms of simplified fabrication processes. However, the use of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene-sulfonate) as a hole injection layer (HIL) in QLEDs presents limitations due to its acidic and hygroscopic nature. In this study, NiO/ZnS core–shell nanostructures as an alternative HIL were studied. The ZnS shell on NiO nanoparticles effectively suppresses the exciton quenching process and regulates charge transfer in QLEDs. The fabricated QLEDs with NiO/ZnS HIL demonstrate high luminance and current efficiency, highlighting the potential of NiO/ZnS as an inorganic material for highly stable all-inorganic QLEDs.