Filtern
Erscheinungsjahr
- 2016 (3) (entfernen)
Dokumenttyp
Sprache
- Englisch (3)
Schlagworte
- AFM (2)
- Confocal (2)
- QY (2)
- SCNC (2)
- Single molecule (2)
- Fluorescence (1)
- Ligand analysis (1)
- Nano particles (1)
- QD (1)
- Quantum dots (1)
The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SC NCs) are largely controlled by their size and surface chemistry, i.e., the chemical composition and thickness of inorganic passivation shells and the chemical nature and number of surface ligands as well as the strength of their bonds to surface atoms.
The latter is particularly important for CdTe NCs, which – together with alloyed CdₓHg₁₋ₓTe – are the only SC NCs that can be prepared in water in high quality without the need for an additional inorganic passivation shell. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of stabilizing ligands for the control of the application-relevant fluorescence features of SC NCs, we assessed the influence of two of the most commonly used monodentate thiol ligands, thioglycolic acid (TGA) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA),
on the colloidal stability, photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), and PL decay behavior of a set of CdTe NC colloids. As an indirect measure for the strength of the coordinative bond of the ligands to SC NC surface atoms, the influence of the pH (pD) and the concentration on the PL properties of these colloids was examined in water and D₂O and compared to the results from previous dilution studies with a set of thiol-capped Cd₁₋ₓHgₓTe SC NCs in D₂O. As a prerequisite for these studies, the number of surface ligands was determined photometrically at different steps of purification after SC NC synthesis with Ellman’s test.
Our results demonstrate ligand control of the pH-dependent PL of these SC NCs, with MPA-stabilized CdTe NCs being less prone to luminescence quenching than TGA-capped ones. For both types of CdTe colloids, ligand desorption is more pronounced in H₂O compared to D₂O, underlining also the role of hydrogen bonding and solvent molecules.
The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SCNC) are controlled by constituent material, particle size, and surface chemistry, specifically the number of dangling bonds favoring nonradiative deactivation, and hence also by particle synthesis. In this respect, the fluorescence properties of coreshell CdSe SCNCs with different shells and surface chemistries were studied on ensemble and single particle level, using steady state and timeresolved fluorometry and confocal microscopy with time correlated single photon counting detection. Special emphasis was dedicated to correlate ensemble photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields and decay kinetics with particle brightness, PL time traces, and the Ontime fraction of the single SCNCs. Additionally, the confocal PL images were correlated with AFM measurements in order to derive the amount of absorbing, yet nonemisssive ”dark” SCNCs, the presence of which leading to an underestimation of ensemble PL quantum yields. The results of this study can help to identify synthetic routes and surface modifications minimizing the fraction of dark SCNC, thereby closing the gap to the ultimate goal of colloidally and photochemically stable SCNCs with a PL quantum yield of close to unity.
The optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (SCNCs) depend on constituent material, particle size, and surface chemistry, with the size of the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) and the PL decay kinetics being largely controlled by the number of dangling bonds, which have to be properly passivated for high quality materials. Hence, PL measurements can provide insight not only in SCNC photophysics, yet can be also used for quality control of SCNC synthesis and surface modification. In this respect, steady state and time-resolved fluorometry and confocal microscopy with time correlated single photon counting were used to study the PL properties of core-shell CdSe SCNCs with different shells and surface chemistries on ensemble and single particle level, thereby focusing on a correlation of ensemble PL QY and PL decay kinetics with particle brightness, PL time traces, and the On-time fraction of single SCNCs. Additionally, confocal PL images were correlated with AFM measurements in order to derive the amount of absorbing, yet non-emissive ”dark” SCNCs, the presence of which resulting in an underestimation of ensemble PL quantum yields. The results of this study can help to identify synthetic routes and surface modifications, which minimize the fraction of dark SCNCs.