Mechanistic Aspects of Quantum Dot Based Probing of Cu (II) Ions: Role of Dendrimer in Sensor Efficiency

作者：Ghosh Srabanti; Priyam Amiya; Bhattacharya Subhash C; Saha Abhijit^*

来源：Journal of Fluorescence, 2009, 19(4): 723-731.

DOI：10.1007/s10895-009-0468-9

• CdTe
• Nanoparticles
• Cu2+ ions
• PAMAM dendrimer
• Photoluminescence (PL)

Selective quenching of luminescence of quantum dots (QDs) by Cu2+ ions vis-A -vis other physiologically relevant cations has been reexamined. In view of the contradiction regarding the mechanism, we have attempted to show why Cu2+ ions quench QD-luminescence by taking CdS and CdTe QDs with varying surface groups. A detailed study of the solvent effect and also size dependence on the observed luminescence has been carried out. For a 13% decrease in particle diameter (4.3 nm -> 3.7 nm), the quenching constant increased by a factor of 20. It is established that instead of surface ligands of QDs, conduction band potential of the core facilitates the photo-induced reduction of Cu (II) to Cu (I) thereby quenching the photoluminescence. Taking the advantage of biocompatibility of dendrimer and its high affinity towards Cu2+ ions, we have followed interaction of Cu2+-PAMAM and also dendrimer with the CdTe QDs. Nanomolar concentration of PAMAM dendrimer was found to quench the luminescence of CdTe QDs. In contrast, Cu2+-PAMAM enhanced the fluorescence of CdTe QDs and the effect has been attributed to the binding of Cu2+-PAMAM complex to the CdTe particle surface. The linear portion of the enhancement plot due to Cu2+-PAMAM can be used for determination of Cu2+ ions with detection limit of 70 nM.

• 出版日期2009-7