Studies of optical and structural properties of CdSe/polymer nanocomposites: evidence of charge transfer and photostability

In this work, the role of conducting [poly (p-phenylinevinylene) (PPV)] and nonconducting (polystyrene) polymers on the properties of their respective composites with CdSe quantum dots of varied sizes has been investigated. The emission and structural properties of polymer–CdSe composites are found to be dependent on the crystallite size and morphology of CdSe nanocrystallites. Smaller CdSe quantum dots (size, ∼5 nm) ensures efficient charge transfer process across polymer–CdSe interface as evident by almost complete quenching of photoluminescence (PL) emission as compared to larger CdSe quantum dots (size, ∼7 nm). Presence of residual trioctylphosphine (TOP)/ tri-n-octylphosphine-oxide (TOPO) species and agglomeration of particles act as a hindrance for quenching of emission and hence charge transfer for larger CdSe nanocrystallites. Emission studies indicated an increased conjugation length for PPV polymers in different solvents (toluene, pyridine) and in solid state. Nonconducting polymer polystyrene shows charge transfer across polymer–CdSe interface as well. However, polystyrene polymer has a shorter chain length, which ensures maximum coverage on the surface of CdSe nanocrystallites and provides better photostability to CdSe QDs within the polymer matrix as compared to that for PPV–CdSe nanocomposites.     

Synthesis and Adsorption Study of BSA Surface Imprinted Polymer on CdS Quantum Dots

A new bovine serum albumin (BSA) surface imprinting method was developed by the in-corporation of quantum dots (QDs) into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), which can offer shape selectivity. Preparation and adsorption conditions were optimized. Physical ap-pearance of the QDs and QDs-MIP particles was illustrated by scanning electron microscope images. Photoluminescence emission of CdS was quenched when rebinding of the template.The quenching of photoluminescence emissions is presumably due to the fluorescence reso-nance energy transfer between quantum dots and BSA template molecules. The adsorption is compiled with Langmuir isotherm, and chemical adsorption is the rate-controlling step.The maximum adsorption capacity could reach 226.0 mg/g, which is 142.4 mg/g larger than that of undoped BSA MIP. This study demonstrates the validity of QDs coupled with MIP technology for analyzing BSA.     

基于氮掺杂碳量子点荧光猝灭效应检测Fe3+

碳量子点光致发光性质取决于尺寸大小和表面官能团的性质.本研究以还原冶炼过程产生的生物质焦油为前驱体,采用小分子乙二胺进行氮掺杂,通过一步水热法合成荧光产率高、分散性能好的氮掺杂碳量子点,基于Fe3+对氮掺杂碳量子点选择性荧光猝灭效应,实现了对Fe3+快速准确检测.合成的氮掺杂碳量子点为规则的球形,尺寸均一,平均粒径为2.64 nm,晶面间距为0.25 nm,具备石墨碳晶格(100)晶格结构,其荧光量子产率为26.1%;Fe3+与N-CQDs表面官能团配位络合致使N-CQDs荧光猝灭,Fe3+浓度在0.23~600μmol/L范围内,与氮掺杂碳量子点荧光猝灭程度呈良好的线性关系,Fe3+的检出限为230 nmol/L.     

CsPbI3钙钛矿量子点的精细纯化及其高效发光二极管的研究

钙钛矿量子点发光二极管(QLEDs)因其色纯度高、颜色控制精准、色域广以及溶液可加工等特点,在显示和照明等领域有着极大的应用前景.针对红光钙钛矿CsPbI3量子点纯化过程中相变和表面配体损失造成的荧光退化问题,本工作发展了一种甲苯和乙酸乙酯协同的混合溶剂纯化策略,能够避免纯化过程中的相变问题,获得了纯立方相的CsPbI...     

Synthesis of ferrocene-grafted poly(p-phenylene-ethynylenes) and control of electrochemical behaviors of their thin films

New ferrocene-coated poly(p-phenylene-ethynylenes) (PPEs) with end capping groups of protected thiol were prepared by a palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction. Ferrocene groups were covalently attached to polymers A and B through ethylene oxide tethers and to polymer C through methylene tethers. Polymers A and B are soluble in common solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, methylene chloride, acetone, dimethylformamide (DMF), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and polymer C is soluble in toluene, THF, chloroform, and methylene chloride. Polymers A-C display low quantum yield, caused by electron-transfer quenching of ferrocene groups as electron donors. The polymer thin films were prepared through incubation of gold electrodes in THF solutions containing the polymers for 2 days. Ferrocene in thin films of polymers A and B display significantly faster electron-transfer rate than that of polymer C. Hydrophilic ethylene oxide side chains of polymers A and B decrease formal potential of tethered ferrocene groups because of electron-donating effect from ethylene oxide side chains, which stabilizes the ferrocenium ion and leads to a cathodic shift of the redox wave.     

Surface passivation of luminescent colloidal quantum dots with poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) through a ligand exchange process

Polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) was used as a multidentate ligand to modify the surface of CdSe/ZnS core-shell colloidal quantum dots in toluene with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as the surface ligand. Adsorption of PDMAEMA was accompanied by release of TOPO. The process is free of agglomeration, and the modified nanocrystals become soluble in methanol. The photoluminescence properties are well-preserved in either toluene or methanol.     

Photoluminescence of a freely suspended monolayer of quantum dots encapsulated into layer-by-layer films

A single monolayer of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) has been encapsulated into a 60 nm free-suspended layer-by-layer (LbL) film. The QD monolayer showed a low light-emission within this film in contact with supporting solid substrates, but the manifold increase of photoluminescencence intensity was observed when the film was lifted and freely suspended over the microfabricated cylindrical cavities. This phenomenon was discussed in relationship with the effect of the elimination of the surface quenching enhanced by optical reflection from highly reflective silicon cavities. We suggest that a significant increase of the photoluminescence intensity of QD monolayers suspended over the microfabricated array can be interesting for future diagnostic and sensing applications.     

腐蚀法制备工艺对SiC量子点光学性质的影响

通过可控的化学腐蚀法制备碳化硅量子点,以氢氟酸和硝酸的混合液为腐蚀剂腐蚀自蔓延燃烧合成的原始碳化硅粉体,而后经超声空化作用及高速离心层析裁剪获得水相的碳化硅量子点,研究了制备工艺参数对量子点光致发光强度、发射波长等光谱特性及粒子尺寸的影响,结果表明,腐蚀剂组分及其配比是影响量子点光致发光强度的主要因素,而超声振动时间和...     

新型水溶性咪唑基硅量子点制备及用于果蔬中痕量铜的荧光检测

硅量子点因其极佳的亲生物性和光学性能成为纳米材料新宠,但传统硅量子点水溶性差限制了它的广泛应用。本实验以三甲基硅咪唑为硅前驱体采用水热法制备水溶性咪唑基硅量子点。相对于硼氢化钠、抗坏血酸、牛血清蛋白、半胱氨酸和柠檬酸,柠檬酸钠作为还原剂和稳定剂制得的硅量子点荧光发射最强。合成反应于220℃下可在2 h内完成,所制备的硅量子点水溶性好,平均粒径为2.6 nm,红外分析证实其表面存在游离的咪唑基。研究表明,硅量子点能与铜离子相互作用导致荧光强度的明显下降。考察不同温度下Cu2+对硅量子点荧光的猝灭行为,发现荧光猝灭程度随温度升高而增大。这说明荧光下降属于静态猝灭,即Cu2+与硅量子点上的咪唑基作用形成稳定配合物。此外,共振光散射分析还揭示荧光猝灭过程伴随着粒子团聚。基于硅量子点的荧光猝灭行为,建立了痕量铜的荧光检测方法。当Cu2+浓度在0.04~2400μmol/L之间,硅量子点的荧光强度随Cu2+浓度的增加而线性下降,检出限(S/N=3)达1.29×10-8 mol/L。本方法具有高的灵敏度、选择性和重现性,已应用于果蔬中痕量铜的荧光检测。     

ZnS∶Co半导体量子点的制备及其光电化学性质

采用低温水热技术,分别以柠檬酸(CA)和巯基丙酸(MPA)为稳定剂,在70℃的水相中合成了单分散的,粒子尺寸约为4 nm的ZnS∶Co半导体量子点.研究了稳定剂、Co2+掺杂剂及其掺杂量对掺杂量子点发光性能和结构的影响.XRD结果表明,Co2+离子主要掺杂在量子点表面,对主体ZnS晶格没有影响.当采用MPA为稳定剂,掺杂量为5%(摩尔分数)时,掺杂量子点的荧光发射强度最高;而同样掺杂量下采用CA为稳定剂时,量子点的荧光发射强度有所下降.循环伏安研究显示,与空白ZnS量子点相比,Co2+离子的掺杂在ZnS的禁带中形成杂质能级,相应地,ZnS∶Co量子点的吸收边发生红移.与未掺杂ZnS量子点相比,掺杂量子点具有较少的表面非辐射复合中心,因而荧光发射强度显著提高.     

Probing the pi-stacking induced molecular aggregation in pi-conjugated polymers, oligomers, and their blends of p-phenylenevinylenes

The role of pi-stack induced molecular aggregation on solution and solid-state luminescent properties was investigated for the tricyclodecane substituted bulky (p-phenylenevinylene)s (BTCD-60, with 60% bulky group), oligophenylenevinylenes (MEH-OPV and BTCD-OPV)s, and their polymer-oligomer binary blends. The natures of the solvent, concentration, solvent combinations (good or bad), and temperature were employed as stimuli to probe the origin of the molecular aggregates in bulky conducting polymers. Absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques were employed as tools to trace aggregation in solvents such as toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), THF and methanol, or THF and water as well as in the solid state. The absorbance spectra of poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy))-1,4-phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV) and BTCD-60 indicated that the films obtained from polymers that were dissolved in aromatic solvents such as toluene were found to possess more pi-stacking as compared to that of films obtained from a good solvent such as THF. The solid-state emission spectrum of BTCD-60 was found to show almost a 5-6 times enhancement in PL intensity as compared to that of MEH-PPV. Concentration dependent excitation spectra of the polymers confirmed the presence of aggregated polymer chains in MEH-PPV, which is the main reason for the quenching of luminescence intensity in the polymer. Solvent induced aggregation studies of polymers in THF and methanol mixture further supports the existence of strong aggregation in MEH-PPV as compared to that of bulky BTCD-60. Variable temperature absorption studies confirmed the reversibility of molecular aggregation on heating/cooling cycles, and the extent of aggregation was found more in MEH-PPV chains as compared to that of BTCD-60. MEH-PPV/OPV binary blends were prepared in the entire composition range from 0 to 100% via solution blending techniques. Through selective PL excitation techniques, the effect of oligomer-to-polymer energy transfer and also luminescent enhancement in MEH-PPV via interchain separation were investigated. Both the energy transfer and the interchain separation were found to be more effective on the enhancement of luminescence properties in the BTCD blends as compared to that of MEH blends. Time-resolved fluorescence studies confirmed the existence of two types of species corresponding to the free and aggregated chains in the polymer matrix with lifetimes in the range of 0.5-2.0 ns. In the present investigation, we have successfully shown that the molecular aggregation of the pi-conjugated polymers, oligomers, and their binary blends can be controlled via suitable bulky substitution to tune their emission properties in solution as well as in the solid state.     

金属离子对CdS量子点/聚酰胺-胺树形分子纳米复合材料光致发光性能的影响

以聚酰胺-胺树形分子为模板制备了分散好、尺寸均匀的CdS量子点，并用分光光度滴定法研究了Cd²⁺、Zn²⁺、Pb²⁺、Cu²⁺、Mn²⁺几种金属离子对其光致发光性能的影响。发现不同离子对CdS量子点的发光性能影响不同:Cd²⁺和Zn²⁺使量子点荧光增强，Pb²⁺、Cu²⁺和Mn²⁺使其荧光有不同程度淬灭。这归因于金属离子对CdS量子点表面的修饰作用。Cd²⁺能减少由S^2-悬键构成的非辐射复合中心，增强树形分子对量子点表面缺陷的钝化作用，并能在量子点周围形成类肖特基能垒，从而显著增大CdS量子点的光致发光效率。由于ZnS与CdS的晶格参数非常接近，Zn²⁺能起到与Cd²⁺类似的作用，使CdS量子点的发光效率大大增强。Pb²⁺和Cu²⁺能取代Cd²⁺在CdS量子点表面生成窄带隙的壳层，对其发光有很强的淬灭作用。由于块体PbS的带隙比块体CuS窄，故Pb²⁺的淬灭能力强于Cu²⁺。Mn²⁺能破坏Cd²⁺与PAMAM树形分子的配位键，降低树形分子对CdS量子点表面缺陷的钝化作用，且其本身在量子点表面构成了新的荧光淬灭中心，但Mn²⁺也能形成较弱的类肖特基能垒，故对量子点的发光淬灭作用较弱。     

Highly luminescent lead sulfide nanocrystals in organic solvents and water through ligand exchange with poly(acrylic acid)

Hydrophobic lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS/OA) synthesized in the presence of oleic acid were transferred from nonpolar organic solvents to polar solvents such as alcohols and water by a simple ligand exchange with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). Ligand exchange took place rapidly at room temperature When a colloidal solution of PbS/OA in tetrahydrofuran (THF) was treated with excess PAA, the PbS/PAA nanocrystals that formed were insoluble in hexane and toluene but could be dissolved in methanol or water, where they formed colloidal solutions that were stable for months. Ligand exchange was accompanied by a small blue shift in the band-edge absorption, consistent with a small reduction in particle size. While there was a decrease in quantum yield associated with ligand exchange and transfer to polar solvents, as is commonly found for colloidal quantum dots, the quantum yields determined were impressively high: PbS/OA in toluene (82%) and in THF (58%); PbS/PAA in THF (42%) and in water (24%). The quantum yields for the PbS/PAA solutions decreased over time as the solutions were allowed to age in the presence of air.     

Quenching of Photoluminescence in ZnO QDs Decorating Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

We report the controlled growth of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) on the sidewalls of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by a one‐step process and study the effect on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the ZnO QDs‐MWCNT composite. The PL intensity of the composite is quenched and the lifetime is reduced compared to the only ZnO QDs. The origin of the PL quenching is discussed in terms of energy transfer, which is examined by varying the density and size of ZnO QDs by changing the molar concentration of the precursor solution for ZnO and the amount of MWCNT.     

Blend Composites Based on Polystyrene–CdSe Quantum Dots and Polystyrene–Gold Nanoparticles Hybrid Systems

Polystyrenes of different molecular masses are synthesized by controlled radical polymerization via the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer mechanism. The resulting polymers are used for designing nanocomposites based on cadmium selenide quantum dots and gold nanoparticles. It is demonstrated that the photoluminescence of quantum dots in the sol grows appreciably during continuous irradiation for 5–6 h but is reduced during the “light switching off–switching on” process. It is shown that, upon the addition of gold nanoparticles, the photoluminescence of quantum dots in the sols changes insignificantly.     

The quenching of CdSe quantum dots photoluminescence by gold nanoparticles in solution

The photoluminescence (PL) of CdSe quantum dots (QD) in aqueous media has been studied in the presence of gold nanoparticles (NP) with different shapes. The steady state PL intensity of CdSe QD (1.5-2 nm in size) is quenched in the presence of gold NP. Picosecond bleach recovery and nanosecond time-resolved luminescence measurements show a faster bleach recovery and decrease in the lifetime of the emitting states of CdSe QD in the presence of quenchers. Surfactant-capped gold nanorods (NR) with aspect ratio of 3 and surfactant-capped and citrate-capped nanospheres (NS) of 12 nm diameter were used as quenchers in order to study the effect of shape and surface charge on the quenching rates. The Stern-Volmer kinetics model is used to examine the observed quenching behavior as a function of the quencher concentration. It was found that the quenching rate of NR is more than 1000 times stronger than that of NS with the same capping material. We also found that the quenching rate decreases as the length of the NR decreases, although the overlap between the CdSe emission and the NR absorption increases. This suggests that the quenching is a result of electron transfer rather than long-range (Forster-type) energy transfer processes. The quenching was attributed to the transfer of electron with energies below the Fermi level of gold to the trap holes of CdSe QD. The observed large difference between NR and NS quenching efficiencies was attributed to the presence of the [110] facets only in the NR, which have higher surface energy.     

Role of surface modification of colloidal CdSe quantum dots on the properties of hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposites

In this work, tri-octyl phosphine/tri-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO)-capped cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) of varied sizes (5–9 nm), prepared by varying the input Cd:Se precursor ratio using chemical route, were dispersed in conducting polymer matrices viz. poly[2-methoxy, 5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). By using a binary solvent mixture (pyridine–chloroform), homogeneous dispersion of CdSe nanocrystals in polymers (MEH-PPV, P3HT) could be realized. The properties of the resulting dispersions could be tailored by the composition and concentration of QDs in polymer. The emission and structural properties of polymer–CdSe nanocomposites are found to be dependent on the crystallite size and morphology of CdSe nanocrystallites. An effective quenching of photoluminescence emission in the polymer nanocomposite was observed for smaller CdSe quantum dots (size ∼6 nm) as compared to larger CdSe quantum dots (size ∼9 nm), thus ensuring efficient charge transfer process across the polymer–CdSe interface in the former case. The incomplete quenching, particularly for MEH-PPV:CdSe nanocomposites, could be as a result of insufficient coverage of polymers on the surface of CdSe nanocrystallites, mainly due to phase segregation for TOPO-stripped CdSe nanocrystallites. The superior morphology and optical properties of polymer nanocomposite (P3HT:CdSe QDs) could play a pivotal role for the realization of effective charge separation and transport in hybrid solar cells.     

Polymer structure and solvent effects on the selective dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Combinations of different aromatic polymers and organic solvents have been studied as dispersing agents for preparing single-walled carbon nanotubes solutions, using optical absorbance, photoluminescence-excitation mapping, computer modeling, and electron microscopic imaging to characterize the solutions. Both the polymer structure and solvent used strongly influence the dispersion of the nanotubes, leading in some cases to very high selectivity in terms of diameter and chiral angle. The highest selectivities are observed using toluene with the rigid polymers PFO-BT and PFO to suspend isolated nanotubes. The specific nanotube species selected are also dependent on the solvent used and can be adjusted by the use of THF or xylene. Where the structure has more flexible conformations, the polymers are shown to be less selective but show an enhanced overall solubilization of nanotube material. When chloroform is used as the solvent, there is a large increase in the overall solubilization, but the nanotubes are suspended as bundles rather than as isolated tubes which leads to a quenching of their photoluminescence.     

侧链含氨基的聚(对亚苯基亚乙炔基-对亚苯基-咔唑)三元共聚物的合成及其聚集态下荧光特性

通过Sonogashira偶联反应制备了含有4-[2-(对苯胺)乙烯基]苯(M1)、2,5-二戊烷氧基-1,4-二乙炔基苯(M2)和9-辛基咔唑(M3)3种结构单元的三元共轭聚合物PPEC,并通过核磁共振氢谱确定了3种结构单元的比例为0.54∶1.00∶0.46(M1∶M2∶M3).由于在PPEC的侧链中含有氨基基团,通过在PPEC的THF溶液中分别加入水、甲醇和正己烷,诱导其产生聚集,其聚集后的荧光性质表现出明显的不同,在THF与水的混合溶剂中,PPEC发光强度会随着水含量的增加先是急剧降低,而后在高水含量时发光强度又显著增强;在THF与甲醇的混合溶剂中,PPEC发光强度随着甲醇的加入只是逐渐降低;在THF与正己烷的混合溶剂中,PPEC的发光强度则会随着正己烷的增加而增强.该结果表明氨基通过与水,或者自身所形成氢键作用,改变了PPEC分子链之间的聚集态结构,降低了分子内旋转非辐射能量效率,从而有效改善共轭聚合物的主链发光性质,这为设计聚集态下(或固态下)高性能的荧光共轭聚合物提供了一种新思路.     

Substrate- and time-dependent photoluminescence of quantum dots inside the ultrathin polymer LbL film

The photoluminescence of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in different configurations at solid surfaces (glass, silicon, PDMS, and metals) is considered for three types of organization: QDs directly adsorbed on solid surfaces, separated from the solid surface by a nanoscale polymer film with different thickness, and encapsulated into a polymer film. The complete suppression of photoluminescence for QDs on conductive metal surfaces (copper, gold) indicated a strong quenching effect. The temporal variation of the photoluminescent intensity on other substrates (glass, silicon, and PDMS) can be tuned by placing the nanoscale (3-50 nm) LbL polymer film between QDs and the substrate. The photooxidation and photobleaching processes of QD nanoparticles in the vicinity of the solid surface can be tuned by proper selection of the substrate and the dielectric nanoscale polymer film placed between the substrate and QDs. Moreover, the encapsulation of QD nanoparticles into the polymer film resulted in a dramatic initial increase in the photoemission intensity due to the accelerated photooxidation process. The phenomenon of enhanced photoemission of QDs encapsulated into the ultrathin polymer film provides not only the opportunity for making flexible, ultrathin, QD-containing polymer films, transferable to any microfabricated substrate, but also improved light emitting properties.