Synthesis and Optical Characterizations of the Fluorescence Silica Nanoparticles Containing Quantum Dots

Abstract

The quantum dots coated by silica is fluorescence material class with great biocompatibility, low toxicity and water-solubility, that is suitable for bioapplications. This work presents the synthesis of SiO2 coated CdTe/ZnSe (named CdTe) quantum dots (CdTe@SiO2 nanoparticles) via a wet chemmical route called modified Stöber method. The compounds tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) has used as precursors, aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) is as electric neutralizer, and ammonium hydroxide is used as catalysts. The size of CdTe@SiO2 nanoparticles was estimated about 70 to 150 nm depending on the quantities of H2O, APTEOS, and catalysts. The emission behaviours of SiO2 coated quantum dots was effected by ratio of substances participating in the reaction and synthesis conditions. with the ratio (by volume) of suitable substances: TEOS:solution of QDs:NH4OH:APTES:H2O being 1.5:1.5x10-2:0.8x10-2:4x10-2:3x10-4:5x10-2, the prepared silica nanoparticles containing quantum dots show high fluorescence emission efficiency, the fluorescence intensity is higher than that of uncoated CdTe/ZnSe quantum dots. This is a positive result in the technique of manufacturing luminescent silica nanoparticles containing quantum dots. The results show an ability to use the CdTe@SiO2 nanoparticles for biological application.