Template-Assisted Electrochemical Synthesis of CdSe Quantum Dots—Polypyrrole Composite Nanorods

Won-Seok Kang,Ki-Suk Kim,Jae-Hyeok Lee,Gwang-Hyeon Nam,Taegon Oh,Sun-Hyun Park,Jae-Ho Kim,Hyo-Sop Kim

doi:10.3390/app10175966

Abstract

Luminescent nanoparticles have reached a high level of maturity in materials and spectral tunability for optics and optoelectronics. However, the lack of facile methodology for heterojunction formation of the nanoparticles provides many challenges for scalability. In this paper we demonstrate a simple procedure to synthesize a nanoparticle-embedded polymer nanorod hybrid structure via a template-based electrochemical method using anodic aluminum oxide membranes. This method enables the formation of interactive nanostructures wherein the interface area between the two components is maximized. As a proof of concept, semiconducting CdSe nanoparticles were embedded in polypyrrole nanorods with dimensions that can be finely tuned. We observed enhanced photoluminescence of the hybrid structures compared with bare polypyrrole nanorods.

Highlights

Since the report that polymers with conjugated backbone structures can become superconductors at room temperature, research on organic conductors has been extensively studied [1,2,3]
We describe an effective synthetic pathway based upon template electropolymerization to produce conducting polymer nanorods in which optically active quantum dots are embedded (Figure 1)
The successful synthesis of PPy-CdSe composite nanorods was verified by electron microscopy (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

Since the report that polymers with conjugated backbone structures can become superconductors at room temperature, research on organic conductors has been extensively studied [1,2,3]. The structure of most conductive polymers has the characteristic of alternating single and double bonds, with the advantages of being able to control their electrical conductivity by doping and having an easy manufacturing process in thin film, powder, or in various nanostructures. The use of these conductive polymers includes electrode materials, static electricity removal, electromagnetic wave shielding and absorption, etc. In the case of metal or semiconductor nanoparticles, when the size is reduced to less than 100 nm, the optical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties of the existing material may change, or the properties may be significantly improved due to the maximized surface area and quantum effects. Studies on the formation of heterojunctions using the unique physicochemical properties of these nanoparticles and, in particular, many attractive

Methods

Results

Conclusion