Hydrogen Peroxide Assisted Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Sulfur Quantum Dots. Issue 21 (15th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Henggang; Wang, Zhenguang; Xiong, Yuan; Kershaw, Stephen V.; Li, Tianzi; Wang, Yue; Zhai, Yongqing; Rogach, Andrey L.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 58:Issue 21(2019)
• Page Start: 7040
• Page End: 7044
• Publication Date: 2019-04-15
• Subjects: elemental sulfur -- LEDs -- photoluminescence -- quantum dots -- surface etching; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201902344
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: An H2 O2 ‐assisted top‐down approach is used to synthesize brightly luminescent, color‐tunable sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), with a photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 23 %. The formation of SQDs involves dissolution of bulk sulfur powder into small particles in an alkaline environment in the presence of polyethylene glycol, followed by H2 O2 ‐assisted etching of polysulfide species, which has the advantage of the passivation of surface states. This synthetic strategy allows us to simultaneously control the final size of SQDs, to tune their emission color, and to improve their emission quantum yield by eliminating surface traps. Down‐conversion white light emitting diodes were also fabricated using blue emissive SQDs and orange emissive copper nanoclusters, with CIE color coordinates of (0.33, 0.32) and a high color rendering index of 91. The water‐soluble, highly luminescent SQDs are promising luminescent materials that can be produced from abundant precursor materials. Abstract : An H2 O2 ‐assisted top‐down approach was proposed to synthesize brightly luminescent sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), which allows simultaneous control over the final size, tuning of their emission color, and improving their emission quantum yield (up to 23 %) by eliminating surface traps. White light emitting diodes using blue emissive SQDs and orange emissive copper nanoclusters are also demonstrated.