Branched Ligand Ethyl 2‐Mercaptopropionate as a Stabilizer for CdTe Quantum Dots and its use as a Cu2+ Ions Probe in Aqueous Medium. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Choudhary, Yogesh S.; Gomathi, N.
• Is Part Of: ChemistrySelect. Volume 5:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: CdTe quantum dots -- Copper ion -- Ethyl 2-Mercaptopropionate -- Fluorescence quenching -- Optical sensor; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.201903767
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-6549

Abstract

Abstract: In the present work, we explored the possibility of using a novel stabilizing ligand namely ethyl 2‐mercaptopropionate for the synthesis of CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The QDs were synthesized and stabilized by the ligand and it was realized to be emitting at 560 nm. Extensive microscopic and photo physical characterization were carried out in order to unearth the nature of the QDs synthesized. Interestingly, it was observed that, the photoluminescence emission of as synthesized QDs were getting quenched linearly in the presence of Cu 2+, which prompt us to make use of these QDs for the detection of Cu 2+ ions in aqueous media. A detailed mechanism of quenching was also proposed. The linear range over which the QDs was selective to Cu 2+ ions was from 0.5 nM to 129.5 nM with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.5 nM providing a pathway for the QDs based Cu 2+ probe. Abstract : Highly luminescent CdTe QDs were synthesized by one pot synthesis strategy employing a novel ligand viz. Ethyl 2‐mercaptopropionate (E2MP). The PL emission of the QDs at 560 nm upon exciting at 340 nm, was found to be responding linearly to the concentration of Cu 2+ in the range of 0.5 to 129.5 nM with a lower detection limit of 0.5 nM. The mechanism of quenching is proposed to be the non‐radiative relaxation of electrons from QDs to Cu 2+ via E2MP.