Abstract
A new strategy for facile preparation of highly luminescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) within amine-terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)s (HPAMAM) was proposed in this paper. CdTe precursors were first prepared by adding NaHTe to aqueous Cd2+ chelated by 3-mercaptopropionic sodium (MPA-Na), and then HPAMAM was introduced to stabilize the CdTe precursors. After microwave irradiation, highly fluorescent and stable CdTe QDs stabilized by MPA-Na and HPAMAM were obtained. The CdTe QDs showed a high quantum yield (QY) up to 58%. By preparing CdTe QDs within HPAMAM, the biocompatibility properties of HPAMAM and the optical, electrical properties of CdTe QDs can be combined, endowing the CdTe QDs with biocompatibility. The resulting CdTe QDs can be directly used in biomedical fields, and their potential application in bio-imaging was investigated.
Highlights
Quantum dots (QDs), referred to as semiconductor nanocrystals, exhibit unique size and shape-dependent optical and electronic properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
There is one work relating to preparing CdTe QDs within poly(amidoamine)s dendrimers (PAMAM) [30]; the highly fluorescence of CdTe QDs prepared within dendritic polymers has not been resolved
Highly fluorescent and stable CdTe QDs stabilized by MPA-Na and hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)s (HPAMAM) were obtained
Summary
Quantum dots (QDs), referred to as semiconductor nanocrystals, exhibit unique size and shape-dependent optical and electronic properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. We found that if CdTe QDs were directly prepared within dendritic PAMAM without other stabilizers, they were easy to be oxidized and had very weak fluorescence even if microwave heating was used. By forming covalent bonds between CdTe QDs and PAMAM, CdTe/ PAMAM nanocomposites were prepared This method is used for the functionalization of preformed CdTe QDs but not for in situ preparation of CdTe QDs, and the CdTe/PAMAM nanocomposites might form large aggregation or self-assembly. Compared with this route, in situ preparation of fluorescent CdTe QDs within dendritic polymers would be more convenient and effective
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
