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We report on the successful synthesis of CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) via a facile aqueous approach. Investigation on the effects of various cadmium sources in the precursor solution on the CdSe NPs is discussed. The structural and morphological properties characterized by the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) displayed good features of the as‐prepared CdSe NPs. The XRD pattern displayed a pure zinc blende crystal structure for all samples, with the most crystalline sample observed for CdSe NPs prepared using anhydrous cadmium chloride. The estimated crystallite sizes were below 6 nm for all the CdSe NPs samples. Mixed shapes of spherical and nanorods of varying sizes were observed from the SEM images for the as‐prepared NPs prepared using different cadmium sources. The optical studies conducted by photo‐spectroscopy pointed out the CdSe NPs prepared using anhydrous cadmium chloride gave the best optical properties. The emission wavelengths were in the range 565 to 574 nm while the optical band gaps were in the range 2.94 to 3.23 eV for all the as‐prepared CdSe NPs samples. All the samples, however, displayed quantum confinement effects giving room for further fabrication and engineering to suit specific applications in the biological field. The obtained results demonstrated that aqueous phase synthetic route employed in this study could be successfully adopted for production of high‐quality CdSe NPs because of its facile and inexpensive nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new type of indium based quantum dots which were conjugated to the magnetic Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles. They were characterized by photoluminescence (PL), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). The photoluminescence characteristics of the coupled and uncoupled indium based quantum dots were investigated to determine whether the fluorescing property could be retained in the bifunctional system. Generally, the PL intensity of the quantum dots was observed to reduce significantly and with huge red shift most probably due to quenching effects for the MNPs. The average size of the coupled nanoparticles were found to range between 4 and 5 nm for the quantum dots and range of 6–13 nm for the Fe 2 O 3 magnetic nanoparticles as revealed by both HRTEM and XRD. The highest magnetic saturation reached for both bare and functionalized magnetic nanoparticles was 68.58 emu/g. The FTIR data revealed that the postulated functional groups were actually present in both the bare and functionalized nanoparticles. For instance, Fe–O was observed at around 580 cm −1 , O–H at 3432 cm −1 and thiol group at 2929 cm −1 for meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid capped Fe 2 O 3 magnetic nanoparticles. The energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) also confirmed that all the elements of the nanocomposite were actually present in the designed material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic–luminescent nanoparticles have shown great promise in various biomedical applications namely: contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, multifunctional drug carrier system, magnetic separation of cells, cell tracking, immunoassay, and magnetic bioseparation. This experiment describes the synthesis of a nanocomposite material, which is composed of an iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) superparamagnetic core and an indium phosphide/zinc selenide (InP/ZnSe) quantum dot shell. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNP’s) and quantum dots (QD’s) were synthesized separately before allowing them to conjugate. The MNP’s were functionalized with a thiol-group allowing the QD shell to bind to the surface of the MNP by the formation of a thiol–metal bond. The nanocomposite was capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid, oleylamine, β-cyclodextrin and their influence on the photoluminescence investigated. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized with high- resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), selective electron area diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and photoluminescence. These techniques yielded particle size, morphology, dispersion, and chemical composition including luminescence and florescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study describes green-emitting Tb3+ or red-emitting Eu3+ doped calcium magnesium silicate phosphors by ultraviolet excitation at 335nm. The rare earth activated amorphous calcium silicate was prepared by a solution–combustion process at 600°C for 5–10min. The Ca2MgSi2O7 prepared using urea and ammonium nitrate has a tetragonal crystal structure. The resulting Tb3+-doped phosphor emitted green light centered at 544nm. The optimum excitation wavelength within the range 300–400nm was 335nm. The intensity and emitting wavelength of the Eu3+ doped samples can be controlled by annealing in a reducing or oxidizing environment, allowing light to be emitted as green or red. When the reducing environment is optimized, the emission spectrum of Ca2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ is a broad band at 497nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: YBO3:Tb3+ nanocrystalline phosphors were successfully deposited by a solution–combustion method, using rare-earth nitrates, urea and boric acid as starting materials. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition and photoluminescence properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results of SEM and XRD revealed that the powders were composed of spherical YBO3:Tb3+ nanocrystals with average grain size of between 50 and 100nm. The electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of the Y, B, O, and C. The XRD measurements revealed YBO3:Tb3+ (JCPDS:83-1205) structure when annealed at 1000°C for 2h. The YBO3:Tb3+ powders exhibited emissions at 490, 545 and 585nm, which were assigned to the 5D4–7F6, 5D4–7F5 and 5D4–7F4 transitions of Tb3+, respectively. Among them, the green emission at 545nm (5D4–7F5) was dominant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report on the one-pot synthesis of InP/ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) using a precursor-based colloidal synthesis in a noncoordinating solvent environment. The structural and optical studies were carried out on the as-prepared InPQDs. The quantum yield of the nanocrystals was recorded as 6% and a 1.4 times reduction in the ratio of trap-related emission to band edge emission was observed on ZnSe passivation of the InPQDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-capped PbSe nanocrystals (NCs) using an aqueous synthetic protocol. The synthesis was carried out at room temperature and resulted in uniform NCs. The as-synthesized NCs were characterized using photoluminescence spectroscopy, HR-TEM and X-Ray diffraction. They showed a perfect Gaussian peak at 1203nm with average diameters of ≤3nm and diffraction patterns consistent with rock-salt structure of PbSe NCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]