Surface modification of CdS quantum dots with fluorinated thiophenol

Abstract

CdS nanocrystallites prepared by capping with pentafluorothiophenol, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorothiophenol or 4-fluorothiophenol are characterized as quantum dots by TEM, FTIR, NMR, UV–VIS and fluorescence spectroscopy. The crystalline size tends to increase with an increase in the number of fluorine atoms in the capping molecules while maintaining high solubility in organic solvents, with solubility in alcohols depending on the number of fluorine atoms in the capping molecules. Pentafluorophenyl-capped CdS nanorystallites have the highest solubilities in alcohols, and exhibit quantum dot photocatalysis in methanol, leading to the efficient two-electron transfer photoreduction under visible-light irradiation.