Abstract
High quality cadmium-free Zn-In-S:Ag doped-nanocrystals (d-NCs) were synthesized via a simple one-step noninjection route using silver nitrate, indium acetate, zinc acetate, oleylamine, S powder and 1-dodecanethiol as starting materials in an organic phase. The size and optical properties can be effectively tailored by controlling the reaction time, reaction temperature, Ag+ dopant concentration, and the molar ratio of In to Zn. The photoluminescence wavelength of as-prepared Zn-In-S:Ag NCs covered a broad visible range from 458 nm to 603 nm. After being passivated by protective ZnS shell, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Zn-In-S:Ag+ /ZnS was greatly improved to 43.5%. More importantly, the initial high PLQY of the obtained core/shell d-NCs in organic media can be preserved when being transferred into the aqueous media via ligand exchange. Finally, high quality Zn-In-S:Ag+ /ZnS d-NCs in aqueous phase were applied as bio-imaging agents for identifying living KB cells.
Highlights
Doped semiconductor nanocrystals (d-NCs) have been widely investigated due to their unique optical properties[1,2]
The complex synthesis process and expensive phosphine precursor are needed upon preparation of InP based NCs18,25,26
The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis in Fig. 1e confirms the existence of Ag ions in Zn-In-S NCs
Summary
Doped semiconductor nanocrystals (d-NCs) have been widely investigated due to their unique optical properties[1,2]. Li et al reported Cu doped Zn-In-Se d-NCs with the emission covering from 545 to 620 nm, synthesized by using a hot-injection route36 This route usually involves complex manipulations which limit its application in a large-scale production and the control of size, due to the difficulties in controlling the rate of precursor injection, batch transfer in a short time and the reaction temperature[1,39]. The Zn-Ag-In-S quaternary solid solution NCs have been synthesized either by thermal decomposition of a metal ion-diethyldithiocarbamate complex or the hot-injection process[44,45,46]. Both methods lead to a PLQY of 24–30%. We demonstrate that Zn-In-S:Ag+/ZnS d-NCs in the aqueous phase can be utilized as bio-imaging agents for identifying living KB cells
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