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Updated: Apr 19, 2026
Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging
Published on: October 9, 2012
Ag2Te quantum dots with compact surface coatings of multivalent polymers: ambient one-pot aqueous synthesis and the
Min Yang1, Rijun Gui2, Hui Jin2
1Collaborative Innovation Center for Marine Biomass Fiber, Materials and Textiles of Shandong Province, Shandong Sino-Japanese Center for Collaborative Research of Carbon Nanomaterials, Laboratory of Fiber Materials and Modern Textiles, The Growing Base for State Key Laboratory, College of Chemical Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, PR China.
Abstract:
In this study, we described a facile ambient one-pot aqueous synthesis of fluorescent Ag2Te quantum dots (QDs) adopting multivalent polymers (poly(maleic anhydride) homopolymers) as stabilizers. In experiments, Ag2Te QDs were synthesized via a stepwise addition of the stabilizers, precursors (AgNO3/Na2TeO3) and promoters (NaBH4/N2H4 · H2O) in ambient one-pot aqueous solution. By regulating the compositions of raw materials, water-dispersed Ag2Te QDs (3.8-4.7 nm) were achieved and exhibited tunable photoluminescence (PL) emission (995-1068 nm) in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) region, accompanying with the minimized surface coating thickness (1.5-1.9 nm). Such compact coating of multivalent polymers promoted PL emission of Ag2Te QDs, so showing high PL quantum yields (PLQYs: 13.1-15.2%). In addition to compact sizes and high PLQYs, experimental results testified that the Ag2Te QDs demonstrated high photo-/colloidal stability and ultralow cytotoxicity, which implied their promising applications, especially serving as an effective nanoprobe for bioimaging in the NIR-II biological window.
