Thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals: progress and perspectives of the related research fields

Abstract

This article analyzes and summarizes recent developments and newly emerging research fields related to thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals, the most successful example of the colloidal quantum dots directly synthesized in aqueous solution. Progress in the synthesis and design of novel materials and functionalities, sophisticated assemblies of thiol-capped nanocrystals, development and validation of analytical and spectroscopic methods relying on thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals as a model system, and, finally, applications of thiol-capped semiconductor nanocrystals in various fields ranging from light harvesting and energy transfer to biotechnology are addressed.

Semiconductor nanowires self-assembled from colloidal CdTe nanocrystal building blocks: optical properties and application perspectives

“…Water based CdTe NCs bearing various thiol molecules as surface ligands 21,22 are very flexible building blocks for the fabrication of self assembled solution based superstructures.…”

II-VI Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Probes for Studying Trypanosomatides

“…These CdTe/CdS-MPA showed intense luminescence after 3 hours of refluxing process at 80 0 C and MSA after 7 hours. This heat treatment process, at high pH, promotes the hydrolysis of the MPA/MSA acid molecules releasing thiol group (SH -) which help to grow the passivation shell (Gaponik & Rogach, 2010). CdS/Cd(OH) 2 QDs presents final pH around 8.0 while CdTe/CdS QDs presents final pH equal to 10.5.…”

An Ancient Model Organism to Test In Vivo Novel Functional Nanocrystals

“…In Figure 12 a schematic representation of the synthesis of TGA-capped QDs is shown. The methodology was first described by Gao (Gao M, 1998) and it is routinely employed in many laboratories, although modifications have been further developed to increase photoluminescence, quantum yields, or for specific applications in various fields ranging from light harvesting and energy transfer to biotechnology (Gaponik and Rogach, 2010). The water-soluble CdTe QDs we analysed using Hydra were surfacecapped with thioglycolic acid (TGA) or stabilized by glutathione (GSH), synthesized as described (Rogach and Lesnyak, 2007) and present a mean diameter of 3.1nm and 3.6nm, respectively .…”