Hydrophilization parameters influencing the properties of shelled alloyed QDs

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) are modern nanoparticles with a wide potential for use in medicine, bioanalysis, as well as in optics and energetics. Different types of QDs can be produced depending on their synthesis method. QDs formed by semiconductor components able to mutual solid-solution formation named alloyed. This type of QDs has a high quantum yield and narrow emission peak but less chemical stability relative to core-shell type QDs. Better core-shell QDs stability explains by the additional surface shell covering. This approach can be applied to the alloyed QDs also. One-step hightemperature organometallic procedure is excellent in this regard due to its simplicity and consistency in the synthesis. However, QDs which obtained in this way are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in polar solutions such as water. Hydrophilization is used to convert QDs from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic state. It was found that when hydrophilizing with β-mercaptoethanol, the quantum yield (QY) significantly increases, although when hydrophilizing with other ligands, it is just a decrease in the quantum yield that appears. This article investigates the process of hydrophilization of core-shell alloyed QDs in which an increase in QY is observed. For this, the effect on the optical properties of the amount of the hydrophilizing agent, long-term storage at room and low temperatures, and the effect of pH on hydrophilized QDs are considered.