Synthesis of CdTe colloidal quantum dots (QDs) in water

The comparison of growth processes and fluorescent properties of CdTe semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) that are synthesized in water with different modifiers are discussed in this paper. The samples are characterized through ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-Vis), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and zeta potential. The results show that when the reaction time is prolonged for the same modifier, the ultraviolet absorption peak and fluorescent emission peak present obvious red shifts and the diameters of the QDs continuously increase. With the same reaction time but different modifiers, QDs with different diameters can be gained. The average full width at half maximum of the photoluminescence spectra is about 50 nm which shows that the monodispersity is quite good. Under the best reaction conditions, the highest quantum yield (QY) can be attained by using thioglycollic acid (TGA) as modifier when the reaction time is 240 min. The zeta potential is influenced by the modifier and pH. __________ Translated from Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2007, 41(10): 1690–1694 [译自: 上海交通大学学报]     

水溶性CdTe量子点的合成及其用于荧光猝灭法测定肌红蛋白

以3-巯基丙酸为稳定剂,合成了具有特殊光学性质的水溶性CdTe量子点,其最大发射波长位于544 nm.利用荧光光谱、紫外可见光谱及圆二色光谱法系统的研究了CdTe量子点与肌红蛋白(Mb)二者结合前后体系光谱的变化,从而证实了CdTe量子点与Mb之间静电结合反应的特征.在pH 7.0的PBS缓冲液中,用CdTe量子点作为荧光探针研究了肌红蛋白与量子点的相互作用,并基于肌红蛋白对CdTe量子点有显著的荧光猝灭作用,建立了肌红蛋白的快速检测方法.在最佳实验条件下,该体系荧光强度的猝灭程度(△F)与肌红蛋白质量浓度呈良好的线性关系,线性范围为0.3～24 μg/mL,检出限为0.13 μg/mL.该方法已对合成样品中肌红蛋白进行检测,并用于人体尿样中肌红蛋白的测定.     

Determination of vanadium(V) with CdTe quantum dots as fluorescent probes

CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were modified with thioglycolic acid (TGA) and synthesized in aqueous medium. The optimum fluorescence intensity was found to be at pH 6.24 with a CdTe QDs concentration of 4.96 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The quenched fluorescence intensity of CdTe QDs is linearly proportional to V(V) concentration from 10 to 200 ng mL⁻¹ with correlation coefficient R = 0.9985. The limit of detection for V(V) was 2.07 ng mL⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of trace amounts of V(V) in water samples with recovery of 96.5–101.8%, and the results were in good agreement with those of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Conjugating luminescent CdTe quantum dots with biomolecules

Newly prepared CdTe quantum dots ( QD) bearing shells of water solubility providing capping agents (i.e., thioglycolic acid ( TGA) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol hydrochloride (DMAET) were subjected to electrostatic assays with several proteins (i.e., cytochrome c (cyt c) and human serum albumin (HSA). In particular, we employed absorption, emission, transient absorption and time-resolved emission spectroscopic means to test their response to light. Only for negatively capped QDs spectroscopic and kinetic evidence were gathered that corroborate the successful bioconjugation of QDs with cyt c to yield QD- cyt c bioconjugates. In fact, photoexcitation of QD-cyt c leads to a fast deactivation of the QD band gap emission and of the QD excited state. Notably, these interactions depend on the size of the QDs. Repulsive forces, on the other hand, are operative between the positively capped QDs and cyt c, hampering any bioconjugation.     

Highly sensitive detection of lead(II) ion using multicolor CdTe quantum dots

Multicolor and water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized with thioglycolic acid (TGA) as stabilizer. These QDs have a good size distribution, display high fluorescence quantum yield, and can be applied to the ultrasensitive detection of Pb(II) ion by virtue of their quenching effect. The size of the QDs exerts a strong effect on sensitivity, and quenching of luminescence is most effective for the smallest particles. The quenching mechanism is discussed. Fairly selective detection was accomplished by utilizing QDs with a diameter of 1.6?nm which resulted in a detection limit of 4.7?nmol?L^?1 concentration of Pb(II). The method was successfully applied to the determination of Pb(II) in spinach and citrus leaves, and the results are in good agreement with those obtained with atomic absorption spectrometry.

Mechanism of antimicrobial activity of CdTe quantum dots

The antimicrobial activity and mechanism of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) against Escherichia coli were investigated in this report. Colony-forming capability assay and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show that the QDs can effectively kill the bacteria in a concentration-dependent manner. Results of photoluminescence spectrophotometry, confocal microscopy, and antioxidative response tests indicate that the QDs bind with bacteria and impair the functions of a cell's antioxidative system, including down-regulations of antioxidative genes and decreases of antioxidative enzymes activities. The oxidative damage of protein and lipid is also observed with thiobarbituric reacting substances and protein carbonyl assays, respectively. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that the mechanism of the antimicrobial activity of CdTe QDs involves QDs-bacteria association and a reactive oxygen species-mediated pathway. Thus, CdTe QDs could have the potential to be formulated as a novel antimicrobial material with excellent optical properties.     

Electrochemical properties of CdSe and CdTe quantum dots

Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs), owing to their unique opto-electronic properties determined by quantum confinement effects, have been the subject of extensive investigations in different areas of science and technology in the past two decades. The electrochemical behaviour of QDs, particularly for CdSe and CdTe nanocrystals, has also been explored, although to a lesser extent compared to the optical properties. Voltammetric measurements can be used to probe the redox levels available for the nanocrystals, which is an invaluable piece of information if these systems are involved in electron transfer processes. Electrochemical data can also foster the interpretation of the spectroscopic properties of QDs, and give insightful information on their chemical composition, dimension, and surface properties. Hence, electrochemical methods constitute in principle an effective tool to probe the quality of QD samples in terms of purity, size dispersion, and surface defects. The scope of this critical review is to discuss the results of electrochemical studies carried out on CdSe and CdTe core and core-shell semiconductor nanocrystals of spherical shape. Examples of emerging or potential applications that exploit electroactive quantum dot-based systems will also be illustrated.     

Modification of CdTe quantum dots as temperature-insensitive bioprobes

CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the stabilizer. The photoluminescence (PL) of CdTe QDs (3.5nm) is found to be temperature-dependent: as the temperature arising from 278K to 323K, the PL intensity declines to 50.2% of its original and PL emission peak shows obvious red-shift ( approximately 7nm). After modification of the QDs surface with denatured ovalbumin, the PL is more temperature-insensitive than before. The PL intensity retains more than 70% of its original and the emission peak shows less red-shift ( approximately 2nm). Moreover, it is found that the PL intensity and wavelength of denatured ovalbumin coated CdTe QDs are reversible during heating (323K)-cooling (278K) cycles. All the studies provide an important theoretical basis for searching temperature-insensitive bioprobes.     

栀子甙对碲化镉量子点的荧光淬灭作用

以3-巯基丙酸作为稳定剂,在水溶液中合成了CdTe量子点;采用荧光光谱法初步研究了栀子甙对巯基丙酸稳定的CdTe量子点的荧光淬灭作用,考察了量子点浓度、pH、反应时间等多种因素对量子点-栀子甙体系荧光强度的影响,确定了测定栀子甙的最佳实验条件;并初步探讨了栀子甙与该量子点相互作用的可能反应机理.结果表明,在最佳实验条件下,巯基丙酸稳定的CdTe量子点对栀子甙检测的线性范围为2×10-7~4×10-6 mol/L,检出限为1.4×10-7 mol/L,相对标准偏差为0.355%;且常见的金属阳离子、糖类和氨基酸对栀子甙的测定无显著影响.总体而言,该方法可用于人体体液中栀子甙的检测,且两者的作用过程可初步推断为动态淬灭过程.     

Synthesis of cysteamine-coated CdTe quantum dots and its application in mercury (II) detection

High-quality cysteamine-coated CdTe quantum dots (CA-CdTe QDs) were successfully synthesized in aqueous phase by a facile one-pot method. Through hydroxylamine hydrochloride-promoted kinetic growth strategy, water-soluble CA-CdTe QDs could be obtained conveniently in a conical flask by a stepwise addition of raw materials. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of the obtained QDs reached 9.2% at the emission peak of 520 nm. The optical property and the morphology of the QDs were characterized by UV–vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence spectra (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. Furthermore, the fluorescence of the resultant QDs was quenched by copper (II) (Cu²⁺) and mercury (II) (Hg²⁺) meanwhile. It is worthy of note that to separately detect Hg²⁺, cyanide ion could be used to eliminate the interference of Cu²⁺. Under the optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the logarithm of Hg²⁺ concentration over the range of 0.08–3.33 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.07 μM.     

Use of surface-modified CdTe quantum dots as fluorescent probes in sensing mercury (II)

Thioglycolic acid (TGA)-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous medium, and their interaction with metal cations was studied with UV-vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra. The results demonstrated that Hg(II), Cu(II) and Ag(I) could effectively quench the QD emission based on different action mechanisms: Cu(II) and Ag(I) quenched CdTe QDs because they bound onto particle surface and facilitated non-radiative electron/hole recombination annihilation of QDs; electron transfer process between the capping ligands and Hg(II) was mainly responsible for the remarkable quenching effect of Hg(II). To prevent the approach of metal cations to QD core, the original TGA-capped CdTe QDs were further coated by denatured bovine serum albumin (dBSA). It was found that the dBSA-coated CdTe QDs could be quenched effectively by Hg(II), but Cu(II) and Ag(I) could hardly quench the QDs even at fairly higher concentration levels because the dBSA shell layer effectively prevented the binding of metal cations onto the QD core. On the basis of this fact, a simple, rapid and specific method for Hg(II) determination was proposed. Under optimal conditions, the quenched fluorescence intensity increased linearly with the concentration of Hg(II) ranging from 0.012 x 10(-6) to 1.5 x 10(-6) mol L(-1). The limit of detection for Hg(II) was 4.0 x 10(-9) mol L(-1). The developed method was successfully applied to the detection of trace Hg(II) in real samples.     

Chemiluminescence of CdTe quantum dots using K3Fe(CN)6 as oxidant and its capping ligand-dependent effect

Water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) capped with three different thioalkyl acids (mercaptoacetic acid, cysteine and glutathione) were synthesized in aqueous solution. In basic media, K₃Fe(CN)₆ could directly oxidize the water-soluble CdTe QDs to produce strong CL emission. It was found that the CL intensity depended on the capping ligand and size of CdTe QDs. CL spectra and fluorescence spectra of the system were measured to investigate the CL reaction mechanism. Moreover, the effects of 17 metal ions on the CL system were carefully investigated. Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ could markedly inhibit the CL signal of the K₃Fe(CN)₆–CdTe QDs system, which makes it applicable for the detection of such ions. This work is of importance for gaining a better understanding of the unique optical and physical chemistry properties of QDs, and it is also helpful to find more practical applications of QDs.     

Interaction of CdTe/CdS quantum dots with antibodies

In the study,we observed the strong adsorption of CdTe/CdS QDs to antibodies and the formation of QDs-antibodies conjugates. Capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection(CE-LIF),fluorescence spectrometry and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy(FCS) were used to characterize the QDs conjugates with antibody.We found that the QDs-antibody conjugates possessed high fluorescence,small hydrodynamic radii and good stability in aqueous solution.     

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence of highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe quantum dots

Highly luminescent water-soluble CdTe quantum dots(QDs) have been synthesized with an electrogenerated precursor.The obtained CdTe QDs can possess good crystallizability,high quantum yield(QY) and favorable stability.Furthermore,a detection system is designed firstly for the investigation of the temperature-dependent PL of the QDs.     

Effect of Cd/Te ratio on the formation of CdTe magic-sized quantum dots during aggregation

In this study, the aggregation dynamics of magic-sized CdTe quantum dots is investigated. The experiments show that the growth kinetics of the quantum dots is very sensitive to the Cd/Te ratio. The crossover from tellurium-rich to cadmium-rich conditions produces a very different aggregation pattern, which can be explained by the lack of formation of magic-sized nanoparticles during the reaction conditions. A simple simulation that includes both monomer-induced growth and aggregation growth is presented to reproduce the experimentally observed aggregation patterns. The simulation results strongly suggest that the experimental aggregation pattern can be reproduced if initially a double magic-sized distribution is assumed. The numerical data clearly show that the aggregation is enhanced by the dipole-dipole interaction. Simulations also suggest that the neck formation of the CdTe quantum dot aggregates is unlikely under the experimental conditions. The absence of neck formation is in agreement with the expectations during high-temperature synthesis.     

水热法快速合成绿色到近红外发光CdTe量子点

以3-巯基丙酸(MPA)和柠檬酸钠为稳定剂,Na2TeO3为碲源,利用水热法成功制备了从绿色到近红外发射的CdTe量子点,并详细探讨了影响CdTe量子点体系的荧光发射波长和量子产率的因素,如反应前驱液的pH值,反应物的浓度比和反应时间等实验条件.分别用X射线粉末衍射、透射电镜、紫外-可见光谱和荧光光谱对CdTe量子点进行了表征.     

CdTe量子点荧光探针测定氯霉素含量的研究

在水溶液体系中制备出了具有高质量荧光性能,巯基乙酸(TGA)修饰的CdTe量子点(QDs),基于量子点与氯霉素混合后发生荧光猝灭作用,建立CdTe量子点作为荧光探针测定氯霉素的新方法。在Tris-HCl缓冲液(pH 7.00,0.10 mol·L-1)中,反应时间为10min时,氯霉素浓度在10～70μg·mL-1范围内与CdTe量子点的荧光猝灭程度呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.9981,检出限为0.799μg.mL-1。方法简便快速,灵敏度高,可用于实际样品中氯霉素的检测。