Optically active quantum dots with induced circularly polarized luminescence in amphiphilic peptide dendron hydrogel

Abstract

In this study, water-soluble semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) showing induced circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in an organic–inorganic coassembled hydrogel were demonstrated. Achiral QDs could be encapsulated into a chiral peptide dendron hydrogel through cogelation. These cogels displayed intense induced circularly polarized emission. In addition, the direction of the CPL property of QD cogels could be regulated by the supramolecular chirality of hydrogels. Our findings reveal that the emergence of CPL achiral QDs can be triggered by the chirality transfer in a multiple-component dendron hydrogel system. This study has given a new understanding into the design of functional chiroptical materials.