Synthetic Routes to the Encapsulation of II–VI Semiconductors in Mesoporous Hosts

Abstract

AbstractOrdered mesoporous silicate materials, such as MCM‐41 and SBA‐15, offer a nanometre‐sized environment for the inclusion of quantum‐confined materials. The channel walls of the framework hinder cluster‐cluster interactions thereby restricting particle growth and thus limiting the size of the enclosed particles to the nanometre‐size regime. In particular, the past decade has seen substantial progress in the synthesis and encapsulation of II–VI nanoparticles within MCM‐41 and SBA‐15. This microreview highlights the recent developments in this area, with notable emphasis on the synthetic routes used in the growth and anchoring of CdS, CdSe and ZnS nanoparticles within a mesoporous host. Of relevance are the methods of ion‐exchange, interior pore wall modification, quantum‐dot doping, incorporation of preformed nanoparticles and clusters and external surface passivation through organic functionalization. In addition to synthetic methods employed, the interesting photochemical properties of the composite materials are discussed. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)