Cell labeling and cytotoxicity of aqueously synthesized CdTe/CdS/ZnS core–shell–shell quantum dots by a water bath-hydrothermal method

CdTe/CdS/ZnS core–shell–shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution via water-bathing combined hydrothermal method using L-cysteine as a stabilizer. The present method features markedly reduced synthesis time, higher fluorescent intensity and lower cytotoxicity of the QDs. Structural and spectroscopic properties of core–shell–shell QDs are well characterized by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Both CdS and ZnS shells were capped on the CdTe core and the fluorescence was greatly enhanced by the ZnS coating. The ternary QDs conjugated with transferrins were successfully employed for the biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. Cytotoxicity evaluation shows that CdTe/CdS/ZnS was less toxic for cells than CdTe and CdTe/CdS due to the presence of a ZnS coating on surface, which inhibited the release of cadmium ions.     

Intermediate intensity levels during the emission intermittency of single CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

We report on an intermediate intensity level in the emission intermittency of single CdSe/ZnS core shell quantum dots, which has been overlooked in previous experiments most likely due to its low quantum efficiency. The intermediate intensity level is observed in CdSe/ZnS quantum dots of large diameter (about 5 nm diameter) and appears to be independent of the general dark state power law dynamics. The dim emission periods are found to be exponentially distributed and thus correspond to similar findings in CdSe/CdS quantum dots, where their existence has been interpreted in terms of the emission of a positively charged trion.     

空穴传输材料对CdSe核壳量子点的荧光影响

用稳态光谱和时间分辨光谱技术研究了空穴传输材料对CdSe/ZnSe 与CdSe/ZnS核壳量子点的荧光影响。结果表明,空穴传输材料对量子点有较强的猝灭作用,随空穴传输材料分子浓度的增加,量子点的荧光强度明显地被猝灭,同时量子点的荧光寿命也被减短。两种不同空穴传输分子对CdSe/ZnSe量子点的荧光猝灭明显不同。在与相同空穴传输分子相互作用时,包覆ZnS壳层的CdSe核壳量子点荧光猝灭效率明显低于包覆ZnSe壳层的CdSe核壳量子点。量子点的荧光猝灭过程可以解释为静态猝灭和动态猝灭过程,其中静态猝灭来源于量子点表面与空穴传输材料间相互作用,而动态猝灭则主要来源于量子点到空穴传输材料的空穴转移过程。实验结果表明空穴传输材料的种类以及核壳量子点的壳层结构都对其荧光猝灭效应起关键作用。     

CdSe/ZnSe/ZnS多壳层结构量子点的制备与表征

展示了一种简捷的多壳层量子点合成路线。在含有过量Se源的CdSe体系中直接注入Zn源,"一步法"合成了CdSe/ZnSe量子点;进一步以CdSe/ZnSe为"核",表面外延生长ZnS壳层制备了核/壳/壳结构CdSe/ZnSe/ZnS量子点。相对于以往报道的多壳层结构量子点的制备方法,该方法通过减少壳层的生长步骤有效地简化了实验操作,缩短了实验周期,同时减少对原料的损耗。对量子点进行高温退火处理,能够大幅提高CdSe/ZnSe/ZnS量子点的发光量子产率。透射电镜、XRD以及光谱研究表明:所制备的量子点接近球形,核与壳层纳米晶均为闪锌矿结构,最终获得的CdSe/ZnSe/ZnS量子点的光致发光量子产率达到53％。为了实现量子点的表面生物功能化,通过巯基酸进行了表面配体交换修饰,使量子点表面具有水溶性的羧基功能团,并且能够维持较高的光致发光量子产率。     

Atomistic tight-binding computations of the structural and optical properties of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals

A study of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals is carried out using atomistic tight-binding theory and the configuration interaction method to provide information for applications in bioimaging, biolabeling, display devices and near-infrared electronic instruments. The calculations yield the dependences of the internal and external passivated shells on the natural behaviours of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. The reduction of the optical band gaps is observed with increasing numbers of monolayers in the external ZnS shell due to quantum confinement. Interestingly, the optical band gaps of CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals are greater than those of CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. In the presence of an external ZnS-coated shell, electron–hole wave function overlaps, oscillation strengths, ground-state exchange energies and Stokes shift are improved, whereas ground-state coulomb energies and fine-structure splitting are reduced. The oscillation strengths, Stokes shift and fine-structure splitting are reduced with the increase in external ZnS shell thickness. The oscillation strengths, Stokes shift and fine-structure splitting of CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals are larger than those of CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. Reduction of the atomistic electron–hole interactions is observed with increasing external ZnS shell size. The strong electron–hole interactions are more probed in CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals than in CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals.     

CdSe/CdS/ZnS 量子点体系中的超快载流子动力学

利用飞秒泵浦探测技术对CdSe/CdS/ZnS量子点体系中的超快载流子动力学过程进行了研究. 通过选择不同波长的泵浦光分别激发样品壳层和核层,研究了载流子在壳层和核层中的超快动力学过程. 实验结果表明,载流子在CdS壳层导带中弛豫过程非常迅速(约130 fs),时间明显短于载流子在CdSe核层导带中的弛豫时间(约400 fs). 实验中也发现在CdS壳层和CdSe核层的分界面存在一定量的缺陷态.     

Evolution of Luminescence with Shell's Thickness in Colloidal CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

We synthesize colloidal CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots with different shell thicknesses, and there are five samples including CdSe core dots, and CdSe/CdS core/shell dots with 1-4 CdS layers. X-ray diffraction and Raman measurements indicate that the stress in CdSe core becomes stronger with the increasing shell thickness, and the optical measurements show that when the shell becomes thicker, the photoluminescence quantum yield is enhanced, and the radiative decay is also expedited. The temperature-dependent optical spectra are measured. The relation between the microstructure and the optical properties is discussed.     

Facile synthesis of mercaptosuccinic acid-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots with improved cell viability on different cancer cells and normal cells

Water-soluble, mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by successive growth of CdS and ZnS shells on the as-synthesized CdTe/CdS_thin core/shell quantum dots. The formation of core/double shell structured QDs was investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, PL decay studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core/double shell QDs exhibited good photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) which is 70% higher than that of the parent core/shell QDs, and they are stable for months. The average particle size of the core/double shell QDs was ～3 nm as calculated from the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. The cytotoxicity of the QDs was evaluated on a variety of cancer cells such as HeLa, MCF-7, A549, and normal Vero cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay. The results showed that core/double shell QDs were less toxic to the cells when compared to the parent core/shell QDs. MCF-7 cells showed proliferation on incubation with QDs, and this is attributed to the metalloestrogenic activity of cadmium ions released from QDs. The core/double shell CdTe/CdS/ZnS (CSS) QDs were conjugated with transferrin and successfully employed for the biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. These core/double shell QDs are highly promising fluorescent probe for cancer cell labeling and imaging applications.     

ZnS:Ag/CdS: a new family of color-tunable quantum dots

ZnS:Ag/CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized by a reverse micelle process under ambient environment. Excited by 350?nm, the emission peak of ZnS:Ag/CdS QDs changes from 425 to 625?nm with increasing the thickness of CdS shells. Although the quantum yields of QDs decrease with CdS shells thickening, the luminescent brightness remains stable throughout. Compared with the traditional color-tunable CdSe QDs, the synthesis of ZnS:Ag/CdS QDs is less toxic and more economic. Therefore, this synthesis process can be regarded as an efficient way to fabricate a series of luminescent nanostructures for a variety of applications.     

Synthesis and Characterization of CdS/CISe Quantum Dots with Core–Shell Structure

Quantum dots have received great interest due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, the surface defects of quantum dots affect the carrier transport and ultimately reduce the photovoltaic efficiency. In this paper, a core–shell quantum dot by hot-injection method is prepared to grow a narrow-band semiconductor layer (CuInSe₂ (CISe) quantumdot) on the surface of a broad-band core material (cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystal). The composition, structure, optical properties, and decay lifetime of CdS/CISe core–shells are investigated in more detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), UV–vis spectrophotometry, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The CdS/CISe core–shell structure has a broadened absorption range and still shows CISe-related quantum effects. The increased size of the core–shell and the smaller specific surface area of the CISe shell layer lead to a lower carrier complexation chance, which improves the carrier lifetime.     

CdSe/CdS核壳量子点复合材料合成及其在白光发光二极管中的应用

采用有机化学合成法,利用正三辛基膦(TOP)辅助的快速注入生长方法,改进传统的制备工艺,实现了CdSe/CdS厚壳层核壳(8.6 ML)量子点复合材料的合成制备,并对所合成的核、核壳量子点及其复合材料的晶格结构、形貌特点与发光性质进行了XRD、TEM、SEM、UV-Vis、PL表征和红光补偿效果测试。测试结果表明,CdSe核具有立方纤锌矿晶格结构;CdSe/CdS量子点复合材料直径为45~75μm,呈菱形规则形貌,且颗粒分散性良好。采用该方法,可以提高量子产率,产率由4%(CdSe核)升至48%(CdSe/CdS核壳量子点);可以增强激子态发光能力,CdSe/CdS核壳量子点复合材料的荧光强度约为CdSe核的13倍。将该材料与YAG∶Ce~(3+)黄色荧光粉组合应用,获得了高光效(148.29 lm/W)、高显色指数(Ra为90.1,R9为97.0)的白光发光二级管,表明按照上述方法获得的CdSe/CdS核壳量子点复合材料在白光发光二极管中深红光波段具有较好的补偿效果。     

HgTe/CdS/ZnS多壳层量子点的制备与表征

采用一种简单的方法合成HgTe/CdS/ZnS多壳层量子点。首先,以1-硫代甘油为稳定剂,在水相溶液中制备出HgTe核量子点;然后,采用外延生长法依次在HgTe核量子点表面包覆CdS和ZnS壳层,合成出最终具有稳定近红外发光的HgTe/CdS/ZnS多壳层量子点。该合成方法仅需3个步骤,具有操作简单、成本低廉的优点。实验结果显示,当反应温度为90 ℃、反应溶液pH为11.0、反应加热回流时间为4 min时,HgTe/CdS/ZnS多壳层量子点具有最高荧光量子产率36%。     

球形ZnS/CdSe/ZnS核壳壳量子点的三阶极化率参量相关特征

在有效质量近似下,利用量子力学的密度矩阵理论,采用无限深势阱模型导出了三层球型量子点的三阶非线性光学极化率(自聚焦)的解析表达式.通过数值计算,分析了ZnS/CdSe/ZnS球型核壳结构量子点的三阶极化率(自聚焦)与量子点尺寸和入射光频率之间的关系.结果显示,量子点尺寸增大时,自聚焦效应三阶极化率(自聚焦)的峰值高度增大,峰值位置红移.本文的讨论为实验研究和实际应用提供了理论依据,对于光电器件的研究和改进有参考价值.     

Optical characterization of quantum dots entrained in microstructured optical fibers

We present a study of the basic optical properties of colloidal CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots entrained in a microstructured optical fiber. Quantum dots suspended in heptane were pulled into the holes surrounding the solid core of a microstructured optical fiber of the holey fiber class via capillary action and are found to remain in the fiber. In this experiment, a laser coupled into the fiber photoexcited quantum dots along the length of the fiber. Quantum dot emission was observed to couple into the fiber core and propagate along the fiber. To investigate the use of such a system in fiber-based light generation or amplification, a second laser overlapping the low-energy portion of the quantum dot emission was simultaneously coupled into the fiber. We observed apparent amplification of this light when photoexciting the quantum dots well above their bandedge.     

单核/双壳结构CdSe/CdS/ZnS纳米晶的合成与发光性质

以巯基乙酸为稳定剂,在水溶液中合成了单核/双壳结构的CdSe/CdS/ZnS纳米晶。在内核CdSe和外壳ZnS之间的内壳CdS作为晶格匹配调节层,能够很好的改善核/壳界面处的性能,而且,最外层ZnS能够最大程度地使激子受限。用TEM和XPS对纳米晶进行了表征,并且用光致发光光谱和吸收光谱对不同核壳结构的纳米晶的发光性能进行了比较,结果表明单核/双壳结构的纳米晶具有更加优异的发光特性。     

Wurtzite and zinc-blende CdSe based core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals: Structure, morphology and photoluminescence

We report comparative study of core/shell nanocrystals based on wurtzite and novel zinc-blende CdSe core. Both wurtzite and zinc-blende CdSe are coated with CdS shell or CdS/ZnS multishell under identical synthetic parameters. Crystal structure analysis finds that CdS shell is wurtzite on either wurtzite or zinc-blende CdSe cores. Morphology and photoluminescence studies exhibit that for zinc-blende CdSe based samples, the shell growth is in fine epitaxy and the obtained core/shell nanocrystals show high quantum yield both before and after surface modification process; while wurtzite CdSe based samples have irregular shape indicating inhomogeneous shell growth, and are with lower quantum yield. Furthermore, in the photoluminescence spectra exited with UV radiation, wurtzite CdSe based samples show side peaks of independently nucleated nanocrystals from the shell material; while samples with zinc-blende CdSe cores are potent in restricting these byproducts, which may attribute to the highly effective arrestment of precursor ions onto the zinc-blende CdSe surface. These features manifest that zinc-blende CdSe is more talented than conventional wurtzite CdSe in achieving core/shell nanocrystals with higher qualities.     

Shell-dependent hole transport in highly luminescent CdSe-core CdS/ZnCdS/ZnS multi-shell nanocrystals

The photoinduced hole transfer dynamics from CdSe quantum dots (QDs), shelled with ZnS or CdS/CdZnS/ZnS layers, to organic hole transporting materials (HTMs) is investigated by absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL intensity and lifetime of the QDs are dramatically quenched when HTMs are added into the dilute QD solution. The quenching efficiency of the QDs significantly decreases with increasing the shell thickness and increases with decreasing the oxidation potential of the HTMs. These facts are correlated with the photoinduced hole transfer from the QDs to the HTMs. The above results are helpful in understanding the photoexcitation dynamics-related phenomena of organic molecule conjugated nano-object.     

Optical properties of 3D photonic crystals filled with CdSe/CdS quantum dots

We study 3D globular photonic crystals based on synthetic opals filled with semiconductor core/shell quantum dots CdSe/CdS by measuring the photoluminescence spectra. The spectra were obtained using 369, 384, and 408 nm LED light excitation and involving a pulse YAG laser operating at 365 and 266 nm. The study shows that the photoluminescence spectra of opal filled with CdSe/CdS changes sufficiently in comparison with spectra taken for pure opal and a reference colloidal solution of CdSe/Cds quantum dots in toluene. Such opals may be used to fabricate a narrow-band light sources.     

界面电子转移对量子点荧光闪烁行为的影响

利用激光扫描共聚焦显微系统分别测量了CdSe/ZnS量子点在SiO2玻片表面、铟锡氧化物(ITO)纳米粒子表面和聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)薄膜表面上的荧光闪烁行为.研究发现,不同界面环境中量子点的亮态发光持续时间的概率密度都服从指数修正的幂律分布P(t)∝t-αexp(-t/μ).与处于SiO2玻片表面的情况相比,在ITO表面上的单量子点具有非常短暂的亮态发光持续时间,而在PMMA表面的单量子点亮态发光持续时间最长.这种荧光闪烁行为的不同主要归因于量子点与三种材料之间的界面电子转移特性.     

ZnO/ZnS核-壳量子点的双光子吸收效应

利用飞秒激光Z-扫描与泵浦-探测技术,研究了室温下ZnO/ZnS与ZnO/ZnS/Ag核-壳胶体量子点的双光子吸收效应.研究发现:ZnO基核-壳量子点的本征双光子吸收系数比ZnO体材料增大了3个数量级;测量得到的660 nm处的ZnO/ZnS核-壳量子点双光子吸收截面约为4.3×10^-44 cm⁴·s·photon^-1,比相应的ZnS、ZnSe及 CdS量子点大2个数量级;当ZnO/ZnS核-壳量子点镶嵌了银纳米点时,非线性吸收有所增强.ZnO基复合纳米结构的双光子吸收增强可归因于量子限域与局域场效应.