Abstract
Bifunctional magnetic and fluorescent core/shell/shell Mn:ZnS/ZnS/Fe3O4 nanocrystals were synthesized in a basic aqueous solution using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a capping ligand. The structural and optical properties of the heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL spectra of Mn:ZnS/ZnS/Fe3O4 quantum dots (QDs) showed marked visible emission around 584 nm related to the 4T1 → 6A1 Mn2+ transition. The PL quantum yield (QY) and the remnant magnetization can be regulated by varying the thickness of the magnetic shell. The results showed that an increase in the thickness of the Fe3O4 magnetite layer around the Mn:ZnS/ZnS core reduced the PL QY but improved the magnetic properties of the composites. Nevertheless, a good compromise was achieved in order to maintain the dual modality of the nanocrystals, which may be promising candidates for various biological applications.
Highlights
Semiconductor nanocrystals with a diameter of approximately 1–10 nm, referred to as quantum dots (QDs), have attracted great attention due to their unique optical and electronic properties, which are not observed in bulk semiconductor materials [1,2,3]
The structural and optical properties of the heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy
The Fe3O4 shell is grown in aqueous solution on the surface of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped core/ shell Mn:ZnS/ZnS nanocrystals prepared via the nucleationdoping strategy [5,23,24,25]
Summary
Semiconductor nanocrystals with a diameter of approximately 1–10 nm, referred to as quantum dots (QDs), have attracted great attention due to their unique optical and electronic properties, which are not observed in bulk semiconductor materials [1,2,3]. Bifunctional magnetic and fluorescent core/shell/shell Mn:ZnS/ZnS/Fe3O4 nanocrystals were synthesized in a basic aqueous solution using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a capping ligand. The results showed that an increase in the thickness of the Fe3O4 magnetite layer around the Mn:ZnS/ZnS core reduced the PL QY but improved the magnetic properties of the composites.
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