Facile aqueous synthesis of ZnCuInS/ZnS–ZnS QDs with enhanced photoluminescence lifetime for selective detection of Cu(II) ions
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Publisher
De Gruyter
Abstract
Description
Abstract: Quaternary quantum dots (QDs) have recently
gained more attention due to their low toxicity, tunable
wavelength, reduced or no blueshift emission upon overcoating,
improved photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield,
and PL lifetime when compared to their binary (II–VI) and
ternary (I–III–VI) counterparts. In this work, the aqueous
synthesis of ZnCuInS/ZnS–ZnS multi-shell quaternary QDs
as a nanosensor for the selective detection of Cu2+ ions was
reported. The as-synthesized QDs were spherical, with a
particle diameter of 3.66 ± 0.81 nm, and emitted in the first
near-infrared window (725 nm) with an average decay PL
lifetime of 43.69 ns. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed
that the QDs were of the wurtzite structure, while the
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed GSH
capping through the sulphur–metal bond. Furthermore,
the fluorometric study shows that the developed multi-shell
QDs were selective towards Cu2+ ions compared to other
metal ions via fluorescence quenching with a limit of detection
of 1.4 μM, which is below the acceptable limit in
drinking water.
Keywords
Q Science (General), QD Chemistry