Direct laser pruning of CdS _xSe _{1- x} nanobelts en route to a multicolored pattern with controlled functionalities

CdS _xSe _1-x nanobelts are interesting nanostructured materials with a tunable band gap from 1.7 to 2.4 eV depending on the nanobelts' stoichiometry. On the basis of their chemical compositions, these nanobelts give out strong photoluminescence with unique color. In this work, we demonstrate that a direct focused laser beam irradiation was able to achieve localized modification of the chemical composition of the nanobelts. As a result, we could locally change the optical properties of these nanobelts. With a scanning laser beam, micropatterns with a wide range of fluorescence color could be created on a substrate covered with ternary nanobelts without a prepatterned mask. The laser modified nanobelts showed higher resistance to acid corrosion and these nanobelts exhibited more superior photoconductivity. The construction of micropatterns with functionality/color control within the sample would provide greater building blocks for photoelectronic applications.