We describe a simple method to prepare water dispersible core–shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) 1 by capping QDs with a new thiol-containing heterobifunctional dicarboxylic ligand 4 (DHLA-EDADA). This ligand, obtained on a gram scale through a few synthetic steps, provides a compact layer on the QDs, whose hydrodynamic size in H2O is 15 nm ± 3 nm. The colloidal stability is dramatically enhanced with respect to the well-known (±) α-lipoic acid (DHLA). The ligand affinity towards QDs and the water dispersibility of nanocrystals 1 are addressed by the dithiol groups of DHLA, which chelate the zinc of the shell, and by the dicarboxylic groups of the ethylenediamine-N,N-diacetic acid (EDADA) residue, respectively. The effects of pH, buffer solutions, and biological medium on the stability of QDs 1 were assessed by monitoring the photoluminescence (PL) and hydrodynamic size over time. Highly fluorescent QD dispersions, stable over extended periods of time and over broad pH ranges and buffer types, were obtained. Furthermore, we show that the DHLA-EDADA ligand 4 also endows QDs with functional groups suitable for further conjugation and for metal ion detection. As a case study to illustrate the potential of our approach, we report the preparation and characterization of a highly luminescent orange light emitting polymer-QD 1 composite film.

A small heterobifunctional ligand provides stable and water dispersible core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) / Salerno, Gianluca; Scarano, Simona; Mamusa, Marianna; Consumi, Marco; Giuntini, Stefano; Macagnano, Antonella; Nativi, Stefano; Fragai, Marco; Minunni, Maria; Berti, Debora; Magnani, Agnese; Nativi, Cristina; Richichi, Barbara. - In: NANOSCALE. - ISSN 2040-3364. - ELETTRONICO. - 10:(2018), pp. 19720-19732. [10.1039/c8nr05566a]

A small heterobifunctional ligand provides stable and water dispersible core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs)

SALERNO, GIANLUCA;Scarano, Simona;Fragai, Marco;Minunni, Maria;Berti, Debora;Magnani, Agnese;Nativi, Cristina;Richichi, Barbara
2018

Abstract

We describe a simple method to prepare water dispersible core–shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) 1 by capping QDs with a new thiol-containing heterobifunctional dicarboxylic ligand 4 (DHLA-EDADA). This ligand, obtained on a gram scale through a few synthetic steps, provides a compact layer on the QDs, whose hydrodynamic size in H2O is 15 nm ± 3 nm. The colloidal stability is dramatically enhanced with respect to the well-known (±) α-lipoic acid (DHLA). The ligand affinity towards QDs and the water dispersibility of nanocrystals 1 are addressed by the dithiol groups of DHLA, which chelate the zinc of the shell, and by the dicarboxylic groups of the ethylenediamine-N,N-diacetic acid (EDADA) residue, respectively. The effects of pH, buffer solutions, and biological medium on the stability of QDs 1 were assessed by monitoring the photoluminescence (PL) and hydrodynamic size over time. Highly fluorescent QD dispersions, stable over extended periods of time and over broad pH ranges and buffer types, were obtained. Furthermore, we show that the DHLA-EDADA ligand 4 also endows QDs with functional groups suitable for further conjugation and for metal ion detection. As a case study to illustrate the potential of our approach, we report the preparation and characterization of a highly luminescent orange light emitting polymer-QD 1 composite film.
2018
10
19720
19732
Salerno, Gianluca; Scarano, Simona; Mamusa, Marianna; Consumi, Marco; Giuntini, Stefano; Macagnano, Antonella; Nativi, Stefano; Fragai, Marco; Minunni...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1141889
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