Abstract
To be useful in optoelectronic devices and sensors, a platform comprising stable fluorescence materials is essential. Here we constructed quantum dots (QDs) embedded DNA thin films which aims for stable fluorescence through the stabilization of QDs in the high aspect ratio salmon DNA (SDNA) matrix. Also for maximum luminescence, different concentration and configurations of core- and core/alloy/shell-type QDs were embedded within SDNA. The QD-SDNA thin films were constructed by drop-casting and investigated their optoelectronic properties. The infrared, UV-visible and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies confirm the embedment of QDs in the SDNA matrix. Absolute PL quantum yield of the QD-SDNA thin film shows the ~70% boost due to SDNA matrix compared to QDs alone in aqueous phase. The linear increase of PL photon counts from few to order of 5 while increasing [QD] reveals the non-aggregation of QDs within SDNA matrix. These systematic studies on the QD structure, absorbance, and concentration- and thickness-dependent optoelectronic characteristics demonstrate the novel properties of the QD-SDNA thin film. Consequently, the SDNA thin films were suggested to utilize for the generalised optical environments, which has the potential as a matrix for light conversion and harvesting nano-bio material as well as for super resolution bioimaging- and biophotonics-based sensors.
Highlights
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules are commercially available at relatively low cost and have unique polymer characteristics, and so have potential as functional biomaterials in various fields, such as biophotonics, bioelectronics, and biosensors
We investigated the quantum dots (QDs)-embedded salmon DNA (SDNA) thin films by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum to confirm the QD and SDNA configuration, UV-vis and PL spectra to assess their photonic characteristics and current‒voltage (I‒V) measurements to evaluate their electrical properties
Core-type QDs in an aqueous phase exhibit a fivefold reduction in photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) due to the surface modification required for stabilisation in water[28]
Summary
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules are commercially available at relatively low cost and have unique polymer characteristics, and so have potential as functional biomaterials in various fields, such as biophotonics, bioelectronics, and biosensors. A thin film made of DNA shows low optical loss and high transparency[1] These unique and superior optoelectronic characteristics of DNA are useful for solid state devices as a charge transport layer in functional devices and a host medium for luminophores in photonics. DNA molecules with fluorescent dyes and metal ions have been used to study optical characteristics. QDs and DNA materials have different optoelectronic characteristics in different phases; i.e. the colloidal and condensed matter (thin film) phases. We developed a natural salmon DNA (SDNA) thin film (as a stable template) with QDs (photo stable inorganic luminophores) dispersed in aqueous and organic phases and investigated the optoelectronic characteristics of QD-embedded SDNA thin films. An appropriate amount of surface functionalised QDs was mixed with SDNA molecules in an aqueous phase to fabricate thickness-controllable QD-embedded SDNA thin films by a drop-casting method
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