Photoelectrochemical properties of CdSe quantum dots doped disk-like tripeptide capsule

Abstract

CdSe quantum dots have been embedded on the disk-like matrices obtained by self-assembly of two disk-like tripeptides. The X-ray crystallography reveals that both the peptides adopt container-like structures with deep cavitands and form supramolecular capsules stabilized by multiple reciprocal intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions. In higher order assembly, the disk-like tripeptides form a polydisperse disk-like architecture. Moreover, these disk-like peptide matrices are used to immobilize luminescence CdSe quantum dots. The electrochemical response shows that the oxidation potential has decreased and reduction potential has increased by CdSe doping of peptide 2. Photoelectric study in ambient light demonstrates that the conductivity of the CdSe–peptide 2 nanoconjugate has enhanced by 200 orders of magnitude compared to that of CdSe.