Issue 33, 2024

An innovative chalcogenide transfer agent for improved aqueous quantum dot synthesis

Abstract

An innovative approach to chalcogenide precursor synthesis and their subsequent use for the production of CdX (X = S, Se, Te) quantum dots (QDs) in water under scalable and intensified continuous flow conditions is introduced. Herein, tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) is identified as a novel, efficient and water-soluble vehicle for chalcogenide transfer to form CdX QDs under aqueous conditions. A comprehensive exploration of critical process parameters, including pH, chalcogen excess, and residence time, utilizing a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach is reported. Reaction kinetics are investigated in real-time using a combination of in situ Raman spectroscopy and in-line 31P NMR spectroscopy. The conversion of TCEP into TCEP[double bond, length as m-dash]X (X = S, Se, Te) species is seamlessly adapted to continuous flow conditions. TCEP[double bond, length as m-dash]X precursors are subsequently employed in the synthesis of CdX QDs. Scalability trials are successfully demonstrated, with experiments conducted at flow rates of up to 80 mL min−1 using a commercially available mesofluidic flow reactor with favorable metrics. Furthermore, biocompatible and aqueous CdSe/ZnS core–shell QDs are for the first time prepared in flow within a fully concatenated process. These results emphasize the potential for widespread biological or industrial applications of this novel protocol.

Graphical abstract: An innovative chalcogenide transfer agent for improved aqueous quantum dot synthesis

Supplementary files

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Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
17 feb 2024
Accepted
26 jul 2024
First published
30 jul 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 13148-13159

An innovative chalcogenide transfer agent for improved aqueous quantum dot synthesis

G. Petit, C. Malherbe, P. Bianchi and J. M. Monbaliu, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 13148 DOI: 10.1039/D4SC01135J

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