Interaction between excitons determines the non-linear response of nanocrystals

The non-linear response of semiconductor quantum dots is investigated using three-pulse photon echo peak shift (3PEPS) experiments and simulations. The third-order non-linear response is modeled by a three-level system, utilizing Brownian oscillators to model the line-broadening functions. Our results show that biexciton formation and exciton–exciton scattering significantly influence the non-linear response of quantum dots. The exciton to biexciton excited state absorption pathways are also investigated for quantum dots with different crystal structures. Our calculations suggest that the probability of excited state absorption to the biexcitonic state is higher for zinc-blende structured nanocrystals.     

不对称合成 ⅩⅥ.(十)-樟脑亚胺的立体控制反应和樟脑结构的研究——(十)-樟脑缩苄胺转动势能计算和构象分析

本文对N-(对-硝基)苄基-1,7,7-三甲基-双环[2.2.1]庚烷-2-亚胺(3)和N-[11—[12-羟基-12-二苯基]甲基]苄基-1,7,7-三甲基-双环[2.2.1]庚烷-2-亚胺(4)进行了X-射线晶体结构分析。采用MOPAC程序的MNDO方法对(+)-樟脑缩苄胺即N-苄基-1,7,7-三甲基-双环[2.2.1]庚烷-2-亚胺(2a)的内部转动势能进行了理论计算。结果表明,(+)-樟脑缩苄胺(2a)以反式(trans)构象形式存在,它在不对称反应中的立体选择性主要受樟脑环上方C10甲基的控制。     

The Complex Amide K2[Zr(NH2)6]

We present the low‐temperature synthesis of potassium hexaamido zirconate(IV) from the transition metal tetrafluoride and thealkali metal dissolved in liquid ammonia at –40 °C. Potassium hexaamido zirconate(IV) K₂[Zr(NH₂)₆] is the first ternary amide reported for elements of group 4 of the periodic table It crystallizes with a novel structure type in the trigonal space group R$\bar{3}$ c with a = 6.5422(2) Å, c = 32.824(2) Å, V = 1216.66(9) Å³, Z = 6 and c/a = 5.017. The structure can be derived from the K₂PtCl₆ type. The compound contains discrete D₃‐symmetric [Zr(NH₂)₆]^2– anions which differ significantly from octahedral shape. Quantum chemical calculations show the distortion to arise from a splitting of degenerate d‐orbitals on the zirconium atom leading to a significant gain in energy.     

dl‐Aspartic Acid‐Mediated Hydrothermal Synthesis of β‐ZnS Microspheres and Their Optical Properties

ZnS hollow microspheres were synthesized by a dl ‐aspartic acid mediated hydrothermal route. dl ‐aspartic acid plays an important role as crystal growth soft template, which regulates the release of Zn²⁺ ions for the formation of ZnS hollow spheres. The formation of these hollow spheres was mainly attributed to an Ostwald ripening process. The products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), electron diffraction (ED), UV/Vis spectroscopy (UV), and photoluminescence (PL). The shells of the microspheres were composed of ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with the average size of 2.31 nm. The average microspheres diameter is 0.5–3.5 μm. The shell thickness of the hollow sphere is ≈?300 nm. The optical bandgap energy increased significantly compared to the bulk ZnS material due to the strong quantum confinement effect. Two strong emissions at ≈?425 nm and ≈?472 nm in the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of ZnS hollow microspheres indicate strong quantum confinement because of the presence of QDs.     

Surface-modified CdS quantum dots as luminescent probes for sulfadiazine determination

A novel, sensitive and convenient determine technology based on the quenching of the fluorescence intensity of functionalized CdS quantum dots by sulfadiazine was proposed. Luminescent CdS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) modified by thioglycollic acid (TGA) were synthesized with the microwave method. The modified CdS QDs are water-soluble, stable and highly luminescent. The possible mechanism for the reaction was also discussed. When sulfadiazine was added into the CdS QDs colloid solution, the surface of CdS QDs generates the electrostatic interaction in aqueous medium, which induces the quenching of fluorescence emission at 489 nm. Under optimum condition, the fluorescence intensity versus sulfadiazine concentration gave a linear response according Stern-Volmer equation with an excellent 0.9981 correlation coefficient. The linearity range of the calibration curve was 1.2 x 10(-5) to 2.13 x 10(-3) mol L(-1). The limit of detection (3delta) is 8.0 micromol L(-1). The relative standard deviation for five determinations of 0.13 x 10(-3)mol L(-1) sulfadiazine is 1.4%. The concentrations of sulfadiazine injections were determined by the proposed method with a satisfactory result.     

Synthesis, characterization and comparative studies on the photophysical and photochemical properties of metal-free and zinc(II) phthalocyanines with phenyloxyacetic acid functionalities

The synthesis and characterization of new peripherally and non-peripherally tetra-substituted metal-free and zinc(II) phthalocyanines with 2-, 3- and 4-phenyloxyacetic acid functionalities are described for the first time in this study. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, MALDI-TOF and ¹H-NMR spectra. Photodegradation, singlet oxygen and fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes of these compounds are studied in dimethylformamide (DMF). The influence of the substituent position on the phthalocyanine framework (non-peripherally or peripherally), central metal ion (metal-free or zinc) and the position of the COOH group (2-, 3- or 4-position on the phenyloxyacetic acid) on the spectroscopic, photophysical and photochemical properties have been investigated. Non-peripherally zinc(II) phthalocyanines (1b and 2b) and peripherally zinc(II) phthalocyanine (4b) gave good singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ_Δ) (0.37, 0.39 and 0.38, respectively) which indicate the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers in applications of PDT.     

Stochastic quantum molecular dynamics for finite and extended systems

We present a detailed account of the technical aspects of stochastic quantum molecular dynamics, an approach introduced recently by the authors [H. Appel, M. Di Ventra, Phys. Rev. B 80 (2009) 212303] to describe coupled electron-ion dynamics in open quantum systems. As example applications of the method we consider both finite systems with and without ionic motion, as well as describe its applicability to extended systems in the limit of classical ions. The latter formulation allows the study of important phenomena such as decoherence and energy relaxation in bulk systems and surfaces in the presence of time-dependent fields.     

Optical and electrochemical DNA nanobiosensors

In the past two decades, nanoscale advanced materials have been explored for biosensing molecules, so new horizons have opened up for identifying and quantifying biomolecules, and possible early diagnosis of diseases.DNA nanobiosensors show promise. This article provides an overview on their optical and electrochemical aspects. We discuss recent progress in this field, describing basic concepts of molecular beacons and quantum dots as optical nano-imaging systems. Also, carbon nanotubes provide a platform for development and advancement of electrochemical DNA nanobiosensors, which are increasingly being implemented as robust tools for detection in biomedical sciences.     

Fundamentals and bioanalytical applications of functional quantum dots as electrogenerated emitters of chemiluminescence

Since the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of quantum dots (QDs) of silicon was reported by Science in 2002, lots of QDs (e.g., II-VI, III-V and IV-VI) with different sizes and shapes have been used as ECL emitters for bioanalysis. Especially, QDs functionalized with multitudinous biomolecules offer excellent ECL signal-transduction platforms for designing a new generation of biosensing devices.In this article, we focus on recent advances in the ECL principles of functional QDs, and their bioanalytical applications in DNA analysis, immunoassay, cytosensing and detection of other biological molecules.