低温合成广谱发光CuInS_2/ZnS量子点

以二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸锌(ZDC)为ZnS的前驱体材料、三辛基膦(TOP)为主要配体,在温度不高于200℃的条件下合成了广谱发光的核壳结构CuInS2/ZnS(CIS/ZnS)量子点.研究了ZDC用量、壳层包裹温度和配体对CIS/ZnS光学特性及荧光量子产率的影响.结果表明,使用ZDC可在相对较低的温度下实现ZnS的包裹过程,并且随着包裹温度的提高,ZnS的包裹速度明显加快.吸收光谱、荧光光谱及X射线衍射分析结果表明,使用TOP为配体合成的CIS/ZnS量子点的明显吸收峰为其激发吸收峰.使用荧光分光光度计、高分辨透射电子显微镜、X射线光电子能谱仪和傅里叶变换红外光谱仪对使用不同配体进行壳层包裹得到的样品进行了表征.结果表明,在ZnS的包裹过程中,配体TOP和十二硫醇作为有机层包覆在颗粒表面也会影响量子点的光学性能和晶体生长速度.使用TOP能够加速ZnS的包裹速度,形成的颗粒尺寸均一,其荧光波长可蓝移至550nm.     

核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球表面处理与光催化制氢性能的关系

具有高活性和稳定性的半导体光催化材料是太阳能光催化制氢领域的研究热点,其中CdS胶体颗粒催化剂因其合适的禁带宽度和带边位置以及较低的原料价格而广受关注.但它在水溶液中不稳定,易受光腐蚀,因而限制了其应用.目前人们致力于用各种方法提高其稳定性,包括各种纳米结构的应用、复合其他催化剂材料以及不同晶相结构复合.ZnS是一种宽禁宽半导体,禁带宽度为3.6 eV,常被用来与CdS形成固溶体调控其能带结构,从而提高其性能和稳定性.其中核壳结构CdS/ZnS异质结具有骑跨型(I型)能带结构,具有特殊的光学和电学性质,在量子点LED和量子点生物荧光显示剂方面获得关注和应用,同时也显示了良好的光催化性能.研究人员对核壳结构CdS/ZnS异质结材料中ZnS壳层厚度对其光学性能包括荧光效率等的影响进行了研究,然而ZnS壳层厚度、颗粒尺寸及其表面处理对光催化性能影响方面的报道很少.本文发展了一种简易的两步法,制备了核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球光催化剂.首先采用超声喷雾热分解法制备CdS微米球,然后以水浴法在CdS微米球上生长ZnS壳层.采用扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)和透射电镜(TEM)对所得样品进行了表征.SEM和TEM结果显示,所得微米球为完整包裹的球形核壳结构;XRD表征证实CdS核与ZnS壳层皆为六角相晶型;光催化性能表征结果显示,该样品的光催化制氢性能远高于单独的CdS微米球以及同法所制的ZnS微米球.通过改变前驱液浓度(Zn源浓度分别为0.2,0.3和0.5 mol/L)获得了三种不同厚度的核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球,X射线荧光光谱结果证实了其壳层厚度成功调控.UV-vis结果发现,其吸收边由内核CdS决定,受壳层厚度的影响不大.光致荧光发射光谱分析发现,随着壳层厚度的增加,其540 nm处的CdS带边发射峰强度逐渐增大.这可能是由于ZnS壳层对CdS表面缺陷的钝化作用降低了其非辐射复合过程,从而提高了荧光发光效率.光催化制氢性能结果表明,前驱液浓度为0.3 mol/L时合成的核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球的产氢效率最高.为了进一步提高其光催化效率,采用氮气中高温热处理、水热二次硫化法以及两者共用三种方式对性能最优的微米球进行改性,获得了三种核壳结构CdS/ZnS样品.结果发现,这些改性方法未影响其吸收边,但水热二次硫化法处理以及两者共用处理的样品在540 nm处的光致荧光发射峰强度明显高于未处理的和高温热处理的样品,证实水热二次硫化法处理可以有效地消除其表面缺陷,减少非辐射复合.XRD结果表明其晶型没有发生变化.TEM表征发现,经高温热处理后其壳层发生重结晶,形成颗粒包裹形貌,而经水热二次硫化法处理后其壳层同样发生重结晶,但包裹颗粒的尺寸明显更小.光催化性能测试表明,处理后样品的光催化性能皆优于未处理样品,其中两者共用法处理的样品产氢性能和稳定性最高.     

Ag2Se@Ag2S核壳量子点的室温合成及其近红外荧光性能优化

在Ag₂Se量子点表面生长宽禁带无机壳层以消除表面缺陷是提高其光致发光性能的有效方法.与Ag₂Se相比,Ag₂S带隙更宽,晶格常数相似,是Ag₂Se量子点的理想壳层.然而,室温下精确制备Ag₂Se@Ag₂S核壳量子点仍然是一个挑战.分别采用胶体原子层沉积(c-ALD)法和一锅水相法在室温下合成了油溶性和水溶性的Ag₂Se@Ag₂S核壳量子点,并通过调控配体链长优化了水溶性Ag₂Se@Ag₂S核壳量子点近红外荧光性能.在c-ALD法中,以1-十二硫醇(DDT)包裹的Ag₂Se量子点作为种子,以油胺(OAM)配位的Ag(OAM-Ag)和Na₂S作为壳层前驱体,制备的油溶性Ag₂Se@Ag₂S核壳结构量子点暂无荧光发射,随后尝试通过高温退火但仍无法恢复其荧光发射能力.接着,在一锅水相法中,...     

核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球表面处理与光催化制氢性能的关系（英文）

具有高活性和稳定性的半导体光催化材料是太阳能光催化制氢领域的研究热点,其中CdS胶体颗粒催化剂因其合适的禁带宽度和带边位置以及较低的原料价格而广受关注.但它在水溶液中不稳定,易受光腐蚀,因而限制了其应用.目前人们致力于用各种方法提高其稳定性,包括各种纳米结构的应用、复合其他催化剂材料以及不同晶相结构复合.ZnS是一种宽禁宽半导体,禁带宽度为3.6 eV,常被用来与CdS形成固溶体调控其能带结构,从而提高其性能和稳定性.其中核壳结构CdS/ZnS异质结具有骑跨型(I型)能带结构,具有特殊的光学和电学性质,在量子点LED和量子点生物荧光显示剂方面获得关注和应用,同时也显示了良好的光催化性能.研究人员对核壳结构CdS/ZnS异质结材料中ZnS壳层厚度对其光学性能包括荧光效率等的影响进行了研究,然而ZnS壳层厚度、颗粒尺寸及其表面处理对光催化性能影响方面的报道很少.本文发展了一种简易的两步法,制备了核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球光催化剂.首先采用超声喷雾热分解法制备CdS微米球,然后以水浴法在CdS微米球上生长ZnS壳层.采用扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)和透射电镜(TEM)对所得样品进行了表征.SEM和TEM结果显示,所得微米球为完整包裹的球形核壳结构;XRD表征证实CdS核与ZnS壳层皆为六角相晶型;光催化性能表征结果显示,该样品的光催化制氢性能远高于单独的CdS微米球以及同法所制的ZnS微米球.通过改变前驱液浓度(Zn源浓度分别为0.2,0.3和0.5 mol/L)获得了三种不同厚度的核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球,X射线荧光光谱结果证实了其壳层厚度成功调控.UV-vis结果发现,其吸收边由内核CdS决定,受壳层厚度的影响不大.光致荧光发射光谱分析发现,随着壳层厚度的增加,其540 nm处的CdS带边发射峰强度逐渐增大.这可能是由于ZnS壳层对CdS表面缺陷的钝化作用降低了其非辐射复合过程,从而提高了荧光发光效率.光催化制氢性能结果表明,前驱液浓度为0.3 mol/L时合成的核壳结构CdS/ZnS微米球的产氢效率最高.为了进一步提高其光催化效率,采用氮气中高温热处理、水热二次硫化法以及两者共用三种方式对性能最优的微米球进行改性,获得了三种核壳结构CdS/ZnS样品.结果发现,这些改性方法未影响其吸收边,但水热二次硫化法处理以及两者共用处理的样品在540 nm处的光致荧光发射峰强度明显高于未处理的和高温热处理的样品,证实水热二次硫化法处理可以有效地消除其表面缺陷,减少非辐射复合.XRD结果表明其晶型没有发生变化.TEM表征发现,经高温热处理后其壳层发生重结晶,形成颗粒包裹形貌,而经水热二次硫化法处理后其壳层同样发生重结晶,但包裹颗粒的尺寸明显更小.光催化性能测试表明,处理后样品的光催化性能皆优于未处理样品,其中两者共用法处理的样品产氢性能和稳定性最高.     

PAMAM树形分子模板法原位制备CdS-ZnS核-壳结构量子点

以4、5代PAMAM树形分子(64个酯端基)为模板, 在树形分子空腔内原位合成了CdS-ZnS核-壳结构量子点, 并对其形貌和光学性能进行了表征. HRTEM观察发现量子点分散良好, 尺寸均匀, 平均粒径约为2.3 nm. UV-Vis光谱证明ZnS外延生长在CdS核外, EDS能谱也证明了核壳结构的生成. 适当厚度的ZnS壳层可使光致发光效率提高至31%. PAMAM树形分子包在CdS-ZnS核-壳结构量子点外, 构成一层有机壳, 有效地限制了粒子聚集, 钝化了CdS量子点表面, 提高了发光效率. 另外， PAMAM树形分子良好的溶解性也赋予了量子点在不同极性溶剂中良好的溶解性, 提高了其稳定性.     

反胶束法制备SiO2包裹的ZnS:Mn/ZnS量子点

采用反胶束法制备了SiO2包裹的ZnS∶Mn/ZnS量子点(1)。1的UV吸收峰在295 nm附近,低于体相ZnS(约340 nm);1中Mn2+含量升高,ZnS基质的缺陷荧光发射峰减弱,595 nm处的Mn2+特征荧光发射峰增强;但Mn2+含量过高时产生荧光淬灭。光学显微镜和透射电镜分析表明,1分散性较好,内核呈结晶态;Mn2+含量为2.2%时,1的内核直径和SiO2壳层厚度分别为6 nm和5 nm左右。     

硫脲修饰ZnSe:Cu量子点的水相合成及荧光特性

以3-巯基丙酸为稳定剂在水相中合成了Cu掺杂的ZnSe量子点(QDs), 并利用硫脲(CH₄N₂S)对其进行表面修饰, 制备出核壳结构的ZnSe:Cu/ZnS 量子点. 制得的量子点呈闪锌矿结构, 尺寸约为5 nm, 有较好的分散性, 其荧光发射峰在460 nm左右. 经CH₄N₂S修饰后, 量子点表面形成了宽禁带的ZnS包覆层, 将电子和空穴限域在了ZnSe:Cu 核内, 减少了表面发生非辐射复合的载流子, 显著提高了量子点的荧光强度. 与Na₂S、硫代乙酰胺(TAA)等常用硫源相比, 以CH₄N₂S为硫源制得的ZnSe:Cu/ZnS 量子点壳层厚度可控, 表面钝化效果更好, 显示出更佳的荧光效率和稳定性. ZnSe:Cu/ZnS 量子点经过紫外线照射后消除了表面的悬空键, 进一步提高了其量子产率, 最终获到了具有较好荧光性质的ZnSe:Cu/ZnS量子点.     

阳离子交换法制备稳定的近红外区核/壳型PbS/CdS量子点

硫化铅量子点(PbS QDs)的光氧化稳定性差是其应用于太阳能电池等领域的主要限制因素之一. 采用阳离子交换法在合成的PbS量子点表面包裹一层具有更稳定、更大禁带宽度的硫化镉(CdS)壳层, 制备出稳定的核/壳型PbS/CdS量子点; 同时, 研究了反应温度和反应时间对阳离子交换过程的影响规律. 通过透射电子显微镜和高分辨透射电子显微镜(TEM/HRTEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)、吸收光谱和荧光光谱考察了所制备PbS/CdS量子点的结构、光学特性和光氧化稳定性．结果表明: 阳离子交换过程中, 离子交换反应程度有限、仅发生在量子点的表面层, 但极薄的CdS壳层已能有效钝化PbS量子点的表面缺陷、显著提高其光氧化稳定性.     

核壳结构ZnS∶Mn/ZnS量子点转光剂的制备及其性能研究

本文以巯基丙酸为稳定剂,采用共沉淀法合成ZnS∶Mn量子点,然后使用核外延法制备了具有将紫外光转红光性能的核壳结构ZnS∶Mn/ZnS量子点转光剂,并使用红外(IR)光谱,透射电镜(TEM)对其官能团结构和形貌进行了表征,采用紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光光谱对其光学性能进行了研究。另外,考察了Mn的掺杂量,放置时间和不同pH的缓冲溶液对ZnS∶Mn/ZnS量子点荧光的影响。     

CdTe/CdS量子点的Ⅰ-Ⅱ型结构转变与荧光性质

制备了壳层厚度可以精确控制的CdTe/CdS核壳量子点, 利用紫外-可见吸收光谱、光致发光光谱、透射电镜和时间分辨光谱等技术, 分析了CdS壳层厚度对CdTe量子点的荧光量子产率和光谱结构的影响规律. 发现了不同于CdSe/CdS, CdSe/ZnS, CdTe/ZnS等核壳量子点的荧光峰展宽、大幅度红移以及荧光寿命大幅度增加现象. 根据能带的位置关系, 随着CdS厚度的增加, CdTe从Ⅰ型结构逐渐过渡到Ⅱ型核壳结构. 对于Ⅱ型CdTe/CdS核壳量子点, 不仅存在CdTe核区导带电子与价带空穴间的直接复合, 还存在CdS壳层导带电子与CdTe核价带空穴界面处的间接复合, 发光机制的变化导致荧光峰的展宽、明显红移和荧光寿命的增加. 当壳层过厚时, 壳层表面新引入的缺陷会阻碍荧光寿命和量子产率的进一步提高.     

Synthesis and characterization of high-quality ZnS, ZnS:Mn2+, and ZnS:Mn2+/ZnS (core/shell) luminescent nanocrystals

High-quality ZnS, ZnS:Mn2+, and ZnS:Mn2+/ZnS (core/shell) nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized via a high-boiling solvent process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The monodisperse ZnS NCs (size = 8 nm), which self-assembled into several micrometer-sized domains, were achieved by adopting poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the reaction process (without using a size-selection process). The obtained ZnS:Mn2+ and ZnS:Mn2+/ZnS core/shell NCs are highly crystalline and quasimonodisperse with an average particle size of 6.1 and 8.4 nm, respectively. All of the as-formed NCs can be well dispersed in hexane to form stable and clear colloidal solutions, which show strong visible emission (blue for ZnS and red-orange for ZnS:Mn2+ and ZnS:Mn2+/ZnS) under UV excitation. The growth of a ZnS shell on ZnS:Mn2+ NCs, that is, the formation of ZnS:Mn2+/ZnS core/shell NCs, resulted in a 30% enhancement in the PL intensity with respect to that of bare ZnS:Mn2+ NCs due to the elimination of the surface defects.     

Effect of CdS Interlayer on Properties of CdTe Based Quantum Dots

Highly luminescent thioglycolic acid-capped CdTe-based core/shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized through encapsulating CdTe QDs in various inorganic shells including CdS, ZnS and CdZnS. CdTe/CdS core/shell QDs exhibited a significant redshift of emission peaks (a maximum emission peak of 652 nm for the core/shell QDs and 575 nm for CdTe cores) with increasing shell thickness. In contrast, the redshift of photoluminescence (PL) peak wavelength of CdTe/ZnS QDs was less than 15 nm. The PL peak wavelengths of the core/shell QDs depended strongly on core size and shell thickness. The PL quantum yields (QYs) of the CdTe/CdS core/shell QDs are up to 67 % while that of CdTe/ZnS core/shell QDs is 45 %. A composite CdZnS shell made CdTe cores a high PL QY up to 51 % and broadly adjusted PL spectra (a maximum PL peak wavelength of 664 nm). The epitaxial growth of the shell was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction analysis and luminescence decay experiments. Because of high PL QYs, tunable PL spectra, and low toxicity from a ZnS surface layer, CdTe/CdZnS core/shell QDs will be great potential for bioapplications.     

Synthesis of Multifunctional Mn‐Doped CdTe/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

The synthesis of a novel water‐soluble Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS core‐shell quantum dots using a proposed ultrasonic assistant method and 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as stabilizer is descried. To obtain a high luminescent intensity, post‐preparative treatments, including the pH value, reaction temperature, reflux time and atmosphere, have been investigated. For an excellent fluorescence of Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS, the optimal conditions were pH 11, reflux temperature 100°C and reflux time 3 h under N₂ atmosphere. While for phosphorescent Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS QDs, the synthesis at pH 11, reflux temperature 100°C and reflux time 3 h under air atmosphere gave the best strong phosphorescence. The characterizations of Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS QDs were also identified using AFM, IR, powder XRD and thermogravimetric analysis. The data indicated that the photochemical stability and the photoluminescence of CdTe QDs are greatly enhanced by the outer inorganic ZnS shell, and the doping Mn²⁺ ions in the as‐prepared quantum dots contribute to strong luminescence. The strong luminescence of Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS QDs reflected that Mn ions act as recombination centers for the excited electron‐hole pairs, attributing to the transition from the triplet state (⁴T₁) to the ground state (⁶A₁) of the Mn²⁺ ions. All the experiments demonstrated that the surface states played important roles in the optical properties of Mn‐doped CdTe/ZnS core‐shell quantum dots.     

溶剂热合成的Cu掺杂ZnCdS量子点的发光性质研究

以低毒、廉价的环己烷为溶剂,通过调控杂质离子和基质材料阳离子的相对反应活性,合成了发光颜色可调、近似球形的Cu∶Zn Cd S量子点。系统研究了油胺的用量、Cu掺杂量、Cd/Zn比以及不同的Zn前驱体对量子点发光性质的影响。通过在Cu∶Zn Cd S量子点晶核外层包覆宽带隙Zn S材料,进一步消除了粒子的表面缺陷,有效提高了量子点的发光效率。     

Solvothermal synthesis of InP quantum dots and their enhanced luminescent efficiency by post-synthetic treatments

InP quantum dots (QDs) were solvothermally synthesized by using a greener phosphorus source of P(N(CH(3))(2))(3) instead of highly toxic P(TMS)(3) widely used, and subsequently subjected to a size-sorting processing. While as-grown QDs showed an undetectably low emission intensity, post-synthetic treatments such as photo-etching, photo-radiation, and photo-assisted ZnS shell coating gave rise to a substantial increase in emission efficiency due to the effective removal and passivation of surface states. The emission efficiency of the photo-etched QDs was further enhanced by a consecutive UV photo-radiation, attributable to the photo-oxidation at QD surface. Furthermore, a relatively thick ZnS shell on the surface of InP QDs that were surface-modified with hydrophilic ligands beforehand was photochemically generated in an aqueous solution at room temperature. The resulting InP/ZnS core/shell QDs, emitting from blue to red wavelengths, were more efficient than the above photo-treated InP QDs, and their luminescent properties (emission bandwidth and quantum yield) were comparable to those of InP QDs synthesized with P(TMS)(3). Structural, size, and compositional analyses on InP/ZnS QDs were also conducted to elucidate their core/shell structure.     

Preparation and characterization of thiacalix[4]arene coated water-soluble CdSe/ZnS quantum dots as a fluorescent probe for Cu2+ ions

Highly fluorescent water-soluble CdSe/ZnS (core/shell) quantum dots (QDs) as a fluorescent Cu2+ ion probe were synthesized using thiacalix[4]arene carboxylic acid (TCC) as a surface coating agent. Hydrophobic trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) capped CdSe/ZnS QDs were overcoated with TCC in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature, and deprotonation of the carboxyl groups of TCC resulted in the formation of water-soluble QDs. The surface structure of the QDs was characterized by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). TEM images showed that TCC-coated QDs were monodispersed with the particle size (core-shell moiety) of approximately 5 nm. Hydrodynamic diameter of the TCC-coated QDs was determined to be 8.9 nm by FCS, showing that the thickness of the surface organic layer of the QDs was approximately 2 nm. These results indicate that the surface layer of TCC-coated QDs forms a bilayer structure consisting of TOPO and TCC molecules. TCC-coated CdSe/ZnS QDs were highly fluorescent (quantum yield, 0.21) compared to the QDs surface-modified with mercaptoacetic acid and mercaptoundecanoic acid. Fluorescence of the TCC-coated QDs was effectively quenched by Cu2+ ions even in the presence of other transition metal ions such as Cd2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ ions in the same solution. The Stern-Volmer plot for the fluorescence quenching by Cu2+ ions showed a linear relationship up to 30 microM of Cu2+ ions. The ion selectivity of TCC-coated QDs was determined by measurements of fluorescence responses towards biologically important transition metal ions (50 microM) including Fe2+, Fe3+, Co2+>Zn2+, Cd2+. The fluorescence of TCC-coated QDs was almost insensitive to other biologically important ions such as Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+, suggesting that TCC-coated QDs can be used as a fluorescent Cu2+ ion probe for biological samples. A possible quenching mechanism by Cu2+ ions was also discussed on the basis of a Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm.     

CdSe/ZnS量子点敏化太阳能电池电子注入与光伏性能表征

合成了CdSe/ZnS核壳结构量子点(QDs), 将其作为光敏剂吸附在TiO2纳米晶薄膜上, 组装成量子点敏化太阳能电池(QDSSCs), 从电子注入速率和电池性能两方面对QDSSCs进行了表征. 为了定量研究ZnS层包覆对电子注入的影响, 运用飞秒瞬态光谱技术, 测试了包覆ZnS前后, CdSe-TiO₂体系的电子注入速率. 实验测得ZnS包覆前后电子注入速率分别为7.14×10¹¹s^-1和2.38×10^-11s^-1, 可以看出包覆后电子注入速率明显降低, 仅为包覆前的1/3. 电池器件J-V性能测试表明, ZnS作为绝缘层包覆在CdSe的表面有效提高了QDSSCs的填充因子和稳定性, 但同时也导致了效率的降低. 上述结果说明了电子注入速率的降低是导致电池电流和效率下降的重要原因, 为今后优化核壳结构QDSSCs的电流和效率提供了依据.     

Gallium Sulfide Quantum Dots with Zinc Sulfide and Alumina Shells Showing Efficient Deep Blue Emission

Solution-processed quantum dot (QD) based blue emitters are of paramount importance in the field of optoelectronics. Despite large research efforts, examples of efficient deep blue/near UV-emitting QDs remain rare due to lack of luminescent wide band gap materials and high defect densities in the existing ones. Here, we introduce a novel type of QDs based on heavy metal free gallium sulfide (Ga₂S₃) and their core/shell heterostructures Ga₂S₃/ZnS as well as Ga₂S₃/ZnS/Al₂O₃. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of core Ga₂S₃ QDs exhibit various decay pathways due to intrinsic defects, resulting in a broad overall PL spectrum. We show that the overgrowth of the Ga₂S₃ core QDs with a ZnS shell results in the suppression of the intrinsic defect-mediated states leading to efficient deep-blue emission at 400 nm. Passivation of the core/shell structure with amorphous alumina yields a further enhancement of the PL quantum yield approaching 50 % and leads to an excellent optical and colloidal stability. Finally, we develop a strategy for the aqueous phase transfer of the obtained QDs retaining 80 % of the initial fluorescence intensity.     

In situ ligand exchange of thiol-capped CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots at growth stage without affecting luminescent characteristics

An aliphatic thiol ligand of CuInS(2)/ZnS core/shell quantum dots is replaced with a hydroxyl-terminated thiol ligand by utilizing 'on-off state' of ligands during growth stage of the quantum dots. After the ligand-exchange, negligible differences were observed on both photoluminescence spectrum and luminescent quantum efficiency. The reason for the high retention of luminescent efficiency comes from no local agglomeration and no surface deterioration of QDs. It is also observed that 70% of initial ligands are exchanged by the replacing ligand, determined by FT-IR and (1)H NMR. The proposed method provides the quantum dots with an excellent dispersibility in polar solvents, supported by identical luminescence decay characteristics of the QDs.     

Temperature-Dependent Photoluminescence of Silver-Indium-Sulfide Nanocrystals in Aqueous Colloidal Solutions

The temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) makes them an appealing option in bio-sensing applications. Here, we probed the temperature-dependent PL behavior of aqueous glutathione (GSH)-capped Ag−In−S (AIS) NCs and their core/shell AIS/ZnS heterostructures. We show that both core and core-shell materials reveal strong PL quenching upon heating from 10 to 80 °C, which is completely reversible upon cooling. The PL quenching is assigned to the thermally activated dissociation of complexes formed by ligands with the metal cations on the NC surface and the introduction of water into the NC coordination sphere. This unique mechanism of the thermal PL quenching results in a much higher temperature sensitivity of the aqueous colloidal AIS (AIS/ZnS) NCs as compared with previously reported analogs capped by covalently bound ligands. Our results are expected to stimulate further studies on aqueous ternary NCs as colloidal luminescent nano-thermometers applicable for ratiometric temperature sensing.