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Luminescent ‘On-Off’ CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot Chemodosimeter for Hydroxide Based on Photoinduced Electron Transfer from a Carboxylate Moiety

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Abstract

A CdSe-ZnS quantum dot (QD) has been surface functionalised by a place exchange reaction with p-mercaptomethyl benzoate synthesized by a three-step procedure. The resulting lumophore-spacer-receptor QD-conjugate was characterized by IR, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The emission profile of the QD reveals a narrow emission peak centred at 542 nm. Addition of hydroxide to the solution containing the QD-conjugate results in quenching of the original fluorescence, which is attributed to a photoinduced electron transfer reaction from the electron-rich benzoate moiety to the QD valence band. This is the first reported example of fluorescent quenching of a CdSe-ZnS QD luminescence by an aryl carboxylate moiety.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge financial support from the University of Malta, Acadia University, and European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST CM1005). Prof. Robert M. Borg is thanked for assistance with the acquisition of the NMR spectra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta

    Lara A. Gauci & David C. Magri

  2. Department of Chemistry, Acadia University, 15 University Ave, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada

    Lindsay G. Kelland & David C. Magri

Authors
  1. Lara A. Gauci
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  2. Lindsay G. Kelland
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  3. David C. Magri
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Correspondence to David C. Magri.

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Gauci, L.A., Kelland, L.G. & Magri, D.C. Luminescent ‘On-Off’ CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dot Chemodosimeter for Hydroxide Based on Photoinduced Electron Transfer from a Carboxylate Moiety. J Fluoresc 23, 793–798 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-013-1212-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-013-1212-z

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