Search

A fluorescent hybrid cadmium sulphide quantum dots (QDs) dendrimer nanocomposite (DAB-CdS) synthesised in water and stable in aqueous solution is described. The dendrimer, DAB-G5 dendrimer (polypropylenimine tetrahexacontaamine) generation 5, a diaminobutene core with 64 amine terminal primary groups. The maximum of the excitation and emission spectra, Stokes' shift and the emission full width of half maximum of this nanocomposite are, respectively: 351, 535, 204 and 212 nm. The fluorescence time decay was complex and a four component decay time model originated a good fit (chi = 1.20) with the following lifetimes: tau (1) = 657 ps; tau (2) = 10.0 ns; tau (3) = 59.42 ns; and tau (4) = 265 ns. The fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposite is markedly quenched by the presence of nitromethane with a dynamic Stern-Volmer constant of 25 M(-1). The quenching profiles show that about 81% of the CdS QDs are located in the external layer of the dendrimer accessible to the quencher. PARAFAC analysis of the excitation emission matrices (EEM) acquired as function of the nitromethane concentration showed a trilinear data structure with only one linearly independent component describing the quenching which allows robust estimation of the excitation and emission spectra and of the quenching profiles. This water soluble and fluorescent nanocomposite shows a set of favourable properties to its use in sensor applications.

A chemical sensor for mercury(II) (Hg(II)) was developed based on the quenching of the fluorescence of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots (QDs) coated with polypropylenimine tetrahexacontaamine dendrimer (DAB) generation 5, CdS-DAB nanocomposites. The synthesis and characterization of CdS-DAB nanocomposites by means of EDXA, SEM and steady state luminescence is described. Macroscopic spherical structures are observed by electronic microscopy and the wavelength for the maximum fluorescence emission occurs at 535 nm (excitation at 351 nm). Stern-Volmer plots show a linear response in the range of 1 x 10(-6) to 1 x 10(-5) M with a quenching constant (K(sv)) of 1.5 x 10(5) M(-1). A parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis model confirmed that Hg(II) alone provokes quenching of the fluorescence. Cu(II) and Pb(II) also quench the fluorescence of CdS-DAB nanocomposites, with a K(sv) = 1.9 x 10(5) M(-1) and K(sv) = 2.2 x 10(4) M(-1), respectively, and Cd(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) have no effect. Ionic strength, in the range from 1.25 x 10(-3) up to 2 M, provokes a shift in the wavelength of the maximum of the emission spectra, from 482 to 677 nm.

We report a nanocomposite of ZnS:Mn quantum dots and a third generation PAMAM-OH dendrimer (ZnS:Mn@PAMAM-OH G=3 ) which was rationalized to be used as ratiometric nanosensor for Cd 2+ in aqueous solution. The nanoparticles exhibited a bright yellow-orange emission with peaks at 448 and 595 nm. The structure of ZnS:Mn was not changed after coupling with PAMAM-OH, which was evidenced by the analysis of the emission spectra of the compounds. The results confirm that the prepared fluorescence nanoparticles could selectively detect Cd 2+ in aqueous solution with a limit of detection of 24.34 μM and RSD 4.07%, obtained by using the ratio I 448 /I 595 . The method was applied to different water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The behavior of a fluorescent nanocomposite, obtained by means of a thiol polypropylenimine dendrimer of third generation coated with CdSe quantum dots, and embedded in a hydrophilic cellulosic membrane as support is electrochemically studied in order to evaluate its applicability as a sensor in liquid media. The characterization of the nanocomposite by TEM and EDAX shows uniform nano morphology (size comprised in the range 60–90nm) and composition, respectively. The analysis of the engineered hybrid cellulose-dendrimer quantum dots material by confocal fluorescence microscopy indicates almost mono-dispersion distribution of the nanocomposite when irradiated under UV light, while its presence on the film surface was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Impedance spectroscopy measurements performed with dry membrane samples show a decrease in the conductivity and dielectric constant of the modified membrane in comparison with the raw support. Electrical changes in the modified film associated to the presence of Cd(II) uptakes from a Cl2Cd solution were also obtained. These results support the possible application of this nanocomposite material as heavy metal sensor in liquid media. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]