Development of sensors with highly sensitivity, good selectivity and reproducibility are of great importance for the detection of Fe3+ in water contamination for environmental monitoring. In this work, the reflux...
Semiconducting nanoparticles (SC NPs) play vital roles in several emerging technological applications including optoelectronic devices, sensors and catalysts. Recent research focusing on the single entity electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry of SC NPs is a fascinating field which has attained an increasing interest in recent years. The nano-impact method provides a new avenue of studying electron transfer processes at single particle level and enables the discoveries of intrinsic (photo) electrochemical activities of the SC NPs. Herein, we review the recent research work on the electrochemistry and photoelectrochemistry of single SC NPs via the nano-impact technique. The redox reactions and electrocatalysis of single metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) NPs and chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) are first discussed. The photoelectrochemistry of single SC NPs such as TiO2 and ZnO NPs is then summarized. The key findings and challenges under each topic are highlighted and our perspectives on future research directions are provided.
The size and composition of colloidal lead sulfide (PbS)
quantum
dots (QDs) are closely related to their optoelectronic properties,
such as the band structure, carrier transportation, resistivity toward
surface oxidation, etc., and hence would greatly affect the device
performance. In this work, we developed a simple electrochemical methodology
for probing the microscopic composition of the PbS QDs capped with
oleic acid (OA). Cathodic and anodic voltammetry of PbS-OA QDs dropcast
onto an electrode surface corresponding to the reduction of lead(II)
and the oxidation of sulfide was separately investigated to quantify
the amount of lead and sulfur. The submonolayer QDs underwent complete
electrolysis at low potential scan rates, while under high scan rates,
the larger reduction to oxidation charge ratio reflects that probably,
only the Pb(II)-rich surface layer was electrolyzed. Based on the
controllable electrolysis, not only the surface composition was revealed,
but also, a depth profile of the elemental distribution for PbS-OA
QDs was proposed. In addition, the size-dependent composition of PbS-OA
QDs was also successfully determined, demonstrating it as a powerful
tool for quantifying the composition of QDs.
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