Organized assemblies of AOT determine nanoparticle characteristics and their performance as FRET donors

Abstract

CdS nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized in three organized assemblies formed by the surfactant Aerosol-OT (AOT). Although NP synthesis in AOT reverse micelles is well documented, but AOT regular micelles and gels have not been commonly used for NP synthesis in the past. The NP shape, size and particularly crystallinity are found to bear direct correlation to the type of AOT assembly. These CdS NPs were found to be photoluminescent and participate in very effective fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with a dye, Ethidium bromide (EB). The efficiency of FRET between CdS NPs and EB is found to depend largely on the location of dye in the surfactant assembly and more significantly on the NP characteristics. This is the first report of preparation of CdS NPs in AOT regular micelles and gels and the first report of FRET between CdS NPs and dye in AOT based organized assemblies.