Abstract
Abstract Rongalite is a cheap, strong and stable reducing agent with broad industrial applications. Herein we report novel method for the preparation of water-soluble and small-size CdTe quantum dots (QDs) using rongalite to produce Te 2− species in reaction medium for the first time. The synthesized QDs were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The influence of parameters such as the pH value of the precursor solution and the molar ratio of Cd 2+ to TGA and Cd 2+ to Te 2− on the quantum yields of CdTe QDs was systematically investigated. Under the optimal conditions at pH 11.6 and selecting thioglycolic acid as capping agent, the as-synthesized CdTe QDs possessed 66% quantum yield with narrow bandwidth of 24 nm. Moreover, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays were employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the as-prepared semiconductor nanocrystals on HeLa cell lines. Bioimaging studies showed that the as-synthesized QDs were quickly taken up by HeLa cells and did not have obvious damage to the cells within an incubation period of 24 h. The results show that Rongalite is a very promising agent for the synthesis of a variety of quantum dots and Rongalite-based QDs may find broad applications.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
