Synthesis and characterization of poly(acrylic acid) stabilized cadmium sulfide quantum dots

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles (NPs) capped with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared in aqueous solutions from Cd(NO3)2 and Na2S. Influence of the COOH/Cd ratio (0.8-12.5), reaction pH (5.5 and 7.5), and PAA molecular weight (2100 and 5100 g/mol) on the particle size, colloidal stability, and photoluminescence were investigated. A Cd/S ratio of <1 causes ineffective passivization of the surface with the carboxylate and therefore results in a red shift of the absorption band and a significant drop in photoluminescence. Therefore, the Cd/S ratio was fixed at 1.1 for all experiments studying the mentioned variables. PAA coating provided excellent colloidal stability at a COOH/Cd ratio above 1. Absorption edges of PAA-coated CdS NPs are in the range of 460-508 nm. The size of the NPs increases slightly with increasing PAA molecular weight and COOH/Cd ratio at pH 7.5. It is demonstrated that there is a critical COOH/Cd ratio (1.5-2) that maximizes the photoluminescence intensity and quantum yield (QY, 17%). Above this critical ratio, which corresponds to smaller crystal sizes (3.7-4.1 nm) for each reaction set, the quantum yield decreases and the crystal size increases. Moreover, CdS NPs prepared at pH 7.5 have significantly higher QY and absorb at lower wavelengths in comparison with those prepared at pH 5.5. Luminescence quenching has not been observed over 8 months.     

Silica Coating of Water-Soluble CdTe/CdS Core-Shell Nanocrystals by Microemulsion Method

"Using Te powder as a tellurium source and Na2S as a sulfur source, core-shell CdTe/CdS NPs were synthesized at 50 oC. UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to probe the effect of CdS passivation on the CdTe quantum dots. As the thickness of CdS shell increases, there is a red-shift in the optical absorption spectra, as well as the PL spectra. The broadening absorption peaks and PL spectra indicate that the size distributions of CdTe/CdS NPs widen increasingly with the increase of CdS coverage. The PL spectra also show that the fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs will increase when the particles are covered with CdS shell with ratio of S/Te less than 1.0, otherwise it will decrease if the ratio of S/Te is larger than 1.0. Furthermore, the (CdTe/CdS)@SiO2 particles were prepared using a water-in-oil microemulsion method at room temperature in which hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate leads to the formation of monodispersed silica nanospheres. The obtained (CdTe/CdS)@SiO2 particles show bright photoluminescence with their fluorescence intensity being enhanced 18.5% compared with that of CdTe NPs. TEM imaging shows that the diameter of these composite particles is 50 nm. These nanoparticles are suitable for biomarker applications since they are much smaller than cellular dimensions."     

Studies of nanoparticulate cadmium sulfide in amphiphilic polymaleic acid octadecanol ester Langmuir-Blodgett films

The reversed micelles of CdS nanoparticles capped with oligomer–polymaleic acid octadecanol ester (PMAO) were synthesized by a colloid chemical method in an aqueous system. The chemical ratio of PMAO between the carboxylic group and the hydrocarbon chain was controlled to 1.5 : 1. The PMAO-capped CdS nanoparticles were transferred on to CaF₂ and Si substrates by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. Surface pressure–area isotherms indicated that PMAO-capped CdS nanoparticles could form a stable monolayer on the water subphase. The measurement of FTIR and small angle X-ray diffraction showed that the reversed micelles of PMAO-capped CdS nanoparticles were formed with a uniform size and order in LB films. The photoluminescence properties of PMAO-capped CdS both in the solution and in the LB film indicated that the photoluminescence peaks of reversed micelles obviously changed as a result of the energy transfer from PMAO to CdS and the interaction between clusters.     

Synthesis and characterization of organic–inorganic hybrid materials prepared by sol–gel and containing CdS nanoparticles prepared by a colloidal method using poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of CdS nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized with poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) and their further immobilization on a hybrid organic–inorganic matrix produced by the sol–gel process. The production of the hybrid matrix doped with CdS NPs was carried out in two steps. In the first step a precursor, designated diureasil precursor, was synthesized from the reaction between the terminal amine groups of α,ω-diamine-poly(oxyethylene-co-oxypropylene) and the isocyanate group of 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane. The next step involved the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of ethoxy groups attached to silicon, this step resulting in the formation of a crosslinked siliceous network linked through urea bonds to a poly(oxyethylene)/poly(oxypropylene) chain. The NPs were added to the diureasil precursor before the gelation process to allow a homogeneous dispersion of the NPs within the matrix. The developed method allowed the transfer of colloidal NPs to a solid matrix without the need of exchange the capping agents or the solvent. The materials were characterized by absorption, steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy and by TEM. The results obtained showed the presence of CdS NPs with quantum size effect dispersed within the diureasil matrix. The obtained nanocomposites show a high transparency in the visible range accounting for the good dispersion of the NPs within the matrix. The TEM analysis confirmed that the NPs are uniformly dispersed within the diureasil matrix.     

Water-soluble CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanocrystals: a greener synthetic route

We report a new green synthetic route of CdSe and core-shell CdSe/CdS nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solutions. This route is performed under water-bath temperature, using Se powder as a selenium source to prepare CdSe NPs, and H(2)S generated by the reaction of Na(2)SH(2)SO(4) as a sulfur source to synthesize core-shell CdSe/CdS NPs at 25-35 degrees C. The synthesis time of every step is only 20 min. After illumination with ambient natural light, photoluminescence (PL) intensities of CdSe NPs enhanced up to 100 times. The core-shell CdSe/CdS NPs have stronger photoactive luminescence with quantum yields over 20%. The obtained CdSe NPs exhibit a favorable narrow PL band (FWHM: 50-37 nm) with increasing molar ratio of Cd/Se from 4:1 to 10:1 at pH 9.1 in the crude solution, whereas PL band of corresponding CdSe/CdS NPs is slightly narrower. The emission maxima of nanocrystals can be tuned in a wider range from 492 to 592 nm in water by changing synthesis temperature of CdSe core than those reported previously. The resulting new route is of particular interest as it uses readily-available reagents and simple equipment to synthesize high-quality water-soluble CdSe and CdSe/CdS nanocrystals.     

Spectroscopic investigations on the photodegradation of toluidine blue dye using cadmium sulphide nanoparticles prepared by a novel method

A novel method to prepare cadmium sulphide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) possessing nearly uniform size was adopted using eggshell membrane (ESM), under different pH conditions. Significant yield of CdS NPs with smallest possible size was obtained by increasing the pH of the reaction medium from acidic to alkaline. The above prepared CdS NPs have been characterized by UV-vis absorption as well as emission spectra, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficiency of the above prepared CdS NPs as a catalyst for the photodegradation of toluidine blue (TB) dye, as a function of pH as well as the ratio between the catalyst and the substrate was studied after irradiation with UV light. The results showed that an efficient interaction took place between the catalyst and the substrate to cause degradation of the selected dye. A maximum degradation of toluidine blue dye (90%) was observed at pH 8 which is higher than that of the efficiencies at pH 4 and pH 6.     

Semiconductor cadmium sulphide nanoparticles as matrices for peptides and as co-matrices for the analysis of large proteins in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization reflectron and linear time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The use of semiconductor cadmium sulphide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) capped with 4-aminothiophenol (ATP) and 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) is described for the first time as matrices and as co-matrices for the analysis of peptides and proteins in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied for the characterization of functionalized CdS NPs. The synthesized CdS-ATP and CdS-MUA NPs exhibit uniform size distribution with diameter of 15-25 nm and 20-30 nm, respectively. The -NH(2) (ATP) and -COOH (MUA) groups modified on the surfaces of CdS NPs provide ionizable moieties for efficient transfer of protons during the desorption/ionization of analytes. The functionalized CdS NPs have desirable properties for the analysis of peptides in reflectron MALDI-TOF-MS with suppressed background noise and increased mass resolution (4-13-fold) in linear MALDI-TOF-MS. The application of CdS-MUA NPs and SA as the co-matrices in MALDI-MS is demonstrated for the analysis of hydrophobic proteins from soybean.     

DNA/CdS纳米粒子复合体系的光谱和光电化学性质

在水溶液中以DNA作为模板和稳定剂, 构筑了DNA与CdS纳米粒子复合体系(DNA/CdS NPC), 研究DNA的含量, 单双链等对复合体系光电响应的影响, 并综合TEM, UV-Vis, IR和荧光光谱等对其形貌和光谱性质进行表征. 结果表明, CdS纳米粒子(CdS NPs)与DNA链之间主要通过静电作用结合; DNA模板对CdS NPs的禁带宽度没有影响; 以DNA模板合成的CdS NPs具有较高的表面态密度, 其对CdS NPs的荧光有增强作用, 而对光电流响应有抑制作用, 并且DNA在复合体系中的含量影响荧光增强和光电流减弱的程度. 该复合体系在荧光标记检测和DNA的定量分析方面可能具有应用前景.     

全固态Z-型CdS/Au/Bi2MoO6异质结的构筑及其光催化性能

采用简单的化学还原沉积和二次水热的方法成功制备了CdS和Au共同修饰Z型CdS/Au/Bi2MoO6(CdS/Au/BMO)光催化剂。通过X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等测试技术对其组成、形貌、光吸收特性和光电化学性能等进行系统表征。实验结果表明,CdS/Au/BMO-2复合材料在可见光照射下表现出最佳的降解效率,其降解RhB的速率常数约为BMO的8.8倍和CdS的20倍。Au NPs作为固态电子媒介,为光生电子的传输和转移提供了一个通道,同时Au NPs的表面等离子体共振(SPR)效应和CdS纳米粒子显著拓宽了催化体系对可见光的响应范围;通过对催化剂的组成、结构和光电性能表征,确定了CdS/Au/BMO的能带结构,进而探讨了CdS/Au/BMO活性增强机制。     

Dynamics of the Size Distribution of CdTe Quantum Dot Ensembles during Growth in Liquid and Crystalline Phases

We recently reported that the growth rate of colloidal CdTe nanoparticles decreases by orders of magnitude when the particles undergo a phase transition from liquid to crystal. The dynamics of nanoparticle growth are dominated by this factor rather than the size dependence of the chemical potential. Herein we discuss how the phase transition affects the size distribution and photoluminescence quantum efficiency of the nanoparticles. We suggest that the absorption linewidth is a better monitor of size distribution than the photoluminescence linewidth because the photoluminescence quantum efficiency, which affects the latter via energy transfer, varies substantially with reaction time. We find that the size distribution broadens in the early stages of growth possibly because of inhomogeneities in the phase transition radius or because particles nucleated at later times coalesce with nanocrystals. The quantum efficiency is enhanced when tellurium is depleted in the reaction solution, giving a cadmium‐enriched surface. Batches with high initial tellurium and cadmium concentrations show a substantial amount of delayed nucleation, lower quantum efficiency and some anisotropic growth.     

水溶性CdSe/CdS量子点的合成及其与牛血清蛋白的共轭作用

用巯基乙酸(TGA)作为稳定剂，合成了水溶性的CdSe和核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点。吸收光谱和荧光光谱研究表明，核壳结构的CdSe/CdS半导体量子点比单一的CdSe量子点具有更优异的发光特性。用TEM、电子衍射(ED)和XPS分别表征了CdSe和CdSe/CdS纳米微粒的结构、形貌及分散性。红外光谱和核磁共振谱证实了巯基乙酸分子中的硫原子和氧原子与纳米微粒表面的金属离子发生了配位作用。在pH值为7.4的条件下，将合成的CdSe和CdSe/CdS量子点直接与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)相互作用。实验发现，两种量子点均对BSA的荧光产生较强的静态猝灭作用；而BSA对两种量子点的荧光则具有显著的荧光增敏作用，存在BSA时CdSe/CdS量子点的荧光增强是不存在BSA时体系荧光强度的3倍。     

Effect of chelating functional polymer on the size of CdS nanocluster formation

Chelating poly(acrylates-co-2-methylacrylic acid 3-(bis-carboxymethylamino)-2-hydroxy-propyl ester) microspheres of diameter 250-310 nm were prepared by the soap-free emulsion polymerization method for varying amounts of GMA-IDA. Then CdS/copolymer composite was generated by chemical deposition on the surface of the copolymer microspheres. By XRD analysis it is found that the chelated CdS nanoparticles are a pure cubic zinc blende structure. The CdS/copolymer composite is examined by UV-vis absorbance, photoluminescence, and TEM observation. Average CdS nanoparticle size calculated from Henglein's empirical curve is in the range of 3.0-8.0 nm and varies according to the GMA-IDA molar ratio during polymerization, pH value during chelation, and postchelation annealing temperature. Higher ratio of chelating group, pH value, and annealing temperature produce larger CdS nanoparticles. As GMA-IDA ratio increases, photoluminescence exhibits a red shift from 510 to 520 nm, photoluminescence increases, and bandwidth decreases. Photoluminescence of the CdS nanoparticle becomes negligible when diameter exceeds 5 nm.     

Studies on optical absorption and photoluminescence of thioglycerol-stabilized CdS quantum dots

Nanoparticles of CdS were prepared at 303 K by aqueous precipitation method using CdSO4 and (NH4)2S in presence of the stabilizing agent thioglycerol. Adjustment of the thioglycerol (T) to ammonium sulphide (A) ratio (T:A) from 1:25 to 1:3.3 was done during synthesis and nanoparticles of different size were obtained. The prepared colloids were characterized by UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic studies. Prominent first and second excitonic transitions are observed in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloid prepared with a T:A ratio of 1:3.3. Particle size analysis was done using XRD, high resolution TEM and dynamic light scattering and found to be approximately 3 nm. UV-vis and PL spectral features also agree with this particle size in colloid with T:A of 1:3.3. The band gap of CdS quantum dots has increased from the bulk value 2.4-2.9 eV. PL spectra show quantum size effect and the peak is shifted from 628 to 556 nm when the ratio of T:A was changed from 1:25 to 1:3.3. Doping of CdS with Zn2+ and Cu2+ is found to enhance the PL intensity. PL band shows blue-shift and red-shift on doping with Zn2+ and Cu2+, respectively. UV and PL spectral features of the CdS/Au hybrid nanoparticles obtained by a physical mixing of CdS and Au nanoclusters in various volume ratios is also discussed. Au red-shifts and rapidly quenches the PL of CdS. An additional low energy band approximately 650 nm is observed in the UV visible spectrum of the hybrid nanoparticles.     

Size and Spectroscopy of Silicon Nanoparticles Prepared via Reduction of SiCl4

Synthesis of silicon nanoparticles of various sizes from 3 to 9 nm in diameter was accomplished via a low temperature solution route. These nanoparticles are prepared via reduction of SiCl₄ with Na naphthalide in dimethoxyethane and capped with octasiloxane. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution (HR) TEM, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, UV–vis, photoluminescence, and their quantum yields were determined. TEM micrographs show that the nanoparticles are well dispersed and SAED and lattice fringes are consistent with diamond structured silicon. X-ray powder diffraction provides no diffraction peaks. UV–vis and photoluminescence show characteristic shifts corresponding to size, consistent with quantum confinement. The smallest sized nanoparticles show the largest quantum yield, consistent with an indirect bandgap nanoparticles.     

Palladium–cadmium sulfide nanopowder at oil–water interface as an effective catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions

A simple and effective strategy is described for the synthesis of Pd–CdS nanopowder by the reduction of an organopalladium(II) complex, [PdCl₂(cod)] (cod = cis ,cis ‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene), in the presence of CdS quantum dots (QDs) at a toluene–water interface. We investigated the impact of addition of CdS QDs on catalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles (NPs). The Pd–CdS nanopowder functions as an efficient catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds. There is a high electron density on Pd NPs and due to their high electron affinity they behave as an electron scavenger from CdS increasing the rate of oxidative addition, which is the rate‐determining step of the catalytic cycle, and, just as we expect, the C─C coupling reaction with the Pd–CdS nanopowder is faster and occurs in less time than that with Pd nanocatalysts. Compared to classical reactions, this method consistently has the advantages of short reaction times, high yields in a green solvent, reusability of the catalyst without considerable loss of catalytic activity and low cost, and is a facile method for the preparation of the catalyst.     

Photoelectrochemical Immunosensor Array Based on Thioglycolic Acid Capped CdS Quantum Dots for Multiplexed Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues

A photoelectrochemical immunosensor based on multi‐electrode array was developed for simultaneous and sensitive determination of veterinary drug residues. In this system, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA), Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and thioglycolic acid (TGA)‐capped CdS quantum dots (QDs) were layer‐by‐layer assembled onto the home‐made Au electrode array. The assembling process of the (CdS/PDDA/Au NPs/PDDA)_n multilayer was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. And then the antibodies for clenbuterol (CB), ractopamine (RAC) and chloramphenicol (CAP) were covalently immobilized onto the Au electrode array by 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) coupling reaction, respectively. The concentrations of CB, RAC and CAP were measured based on the photoelectrochemical effects of CdS QDs. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) for CB, RAC and CAP were 25, 50 and 2.2 pg/mL (3Δ), respectively, with acceptable recovery over the range of 95.40%–105.5% in pig liver samples. All results indicate that the immunosensor array system has potential application for practical, effective and high throughput analysis of veterinary drugs residues.     

Amino acids (l-arginine and l-alanine) passivated CdS nanoparticles: Synthesis of spherical hierarchical structure and nonlinear optical properties

CdS nanoparticles (NPs) passivated with amino acids (l-alanine and l-arginine) having spherical hierarchical morphology were synthesized by room temperature wet chemical method. Synthesized NPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy to study the variation of band gaps with concentration of surface modifying agents. Increase in band gap has been observed with the increase in concentration of surface modifying agents and was found more prominent for CdS NPs passivated with l-alanine. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were carried out for the study of crystal structure and morphology of CdS NPs. The average particle size of CdS NPs calculated from Debye-Scherer formula was found to less than 5 nm and agrees well with those determined from UV–vis spectra and TEM data. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was performed to know the functional groups of the grown NPs. Peaks in FT-IR spectra indicate the formation of CdS NPs and capping with l-alanine and l-arginine. Photoluminescence spectra of these NPs were also studied. Finally, colloidal solution of CdS-PVAc was subjected to Z-scan experiment under low power cw laser illumination to characterize them for third order nonlinear optical properties. CdS-PVAc colloidal solution shows enhanced nonlinear absorption due to RSA and weak FCA on account of two photon absorption processes triggered by thermal effect.     

Comparative study on the effect of precursors on the morphology and electronic properties of CdS nanoparticles

Cadmium dithiocarbamate and cadmium ethyl xanthate complexes were synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses. The complexes were employed as molecular precursors for the fabrication of CdS nanoparticles in hexadecylamine (HDA) and oleylamine (OLA) at a temperature of 250 °C. Spherical and oval shaped particles with sizes ranging from 9.93 ± 1.89 to 16.74 ± 2.78 nm were obtained in OLA while spherical, oval and rod shaped particles with sizes ranging from 9.40 ± 1.65 to 29.90 ± 5.32 nm were obtained in HDA. Optical properties of the nanoparticles showed blue shifts as compared to the bulk CdS, with the OLA capped nanoparticles slightly more blue shifted than the corresponding HDA capped nanoparticles. Results of crystallinity patterns revealed hexagonal phase of CdS.     

Gold nanoparticle size controlled by polymeric Au(I) thiolate precursor size

We developed a method in preparing size-controllable gold nanoparticles (Au NPs, 2-6 nm) capped with glutathione by varying the pH (between 5.5 and 8.0) of the solution before reduction. This method is based on the formation of polymeric nanoparticle precursors, Au(I)-glutathione polymers, which change size and density depending on the pH. Dynamic light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, and UV-vis spectroscopy results suggest that lower pH values favor larger and denser polymeric precursors and higher pH values favor smaller and less dense precursors. Consequently, the larger precursors led to the formation of larger Au NPs, whereas smaller precursors led to the formation of smaller Au NPs. Using this strategy, Au NPs functionalized with nickel(II) nitriloacetate (Ni-NTA) group were prepared by a mixed-ligand approach. These Ni-NTA functionalized Au NPs exhibited specific binding to 6x-histidine-tagged Adenovirus serotype 12 knob proteins, demonstrating their utility in biomolecular labeling applications.     

Photoconductivity and photoluminescence of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via co-precipitation method

Photoconductivity and photoluminescence studies of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by co-precipitation method capped with thioglycerol are carried out. The effect of annealing at 300°C is also studied. The transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirm the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticles. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of ZnO NPs shows blue shift of absorption peak as compared to bulk ZnO. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of as-synthesized ZnO NPs show band edge emission as well as blue-green emission. After annealing band edge emission is quenched. Photocurrent is found to vary super linearly at high voltage for both as-synthesized as well as annealed ZnO NPs. Time resolved rise and decay photocurrent spectra are found to exhibit anomalous photoconductivity for as-synthesized as well as annealed ZnO NPs wherein the photocurrent decreases even during steady illumination.