Liquid Quantum Dots Constructed by Host-Guest Interaction

It is a challenging task to construct nonionic liquid quantum dots (QDs) with highly optical perfermance. To address the problem, we make a new strategy to construct liquid QDs via host-guest interaction between β-cyclodextrin and adamantane. Macroscopic fluidity and optical performance of liquid QDs can be controlled by the length of polyethylene glycol. The supramolecular compounds can make use of its excellent inclusion capacities to fasten flexible organic long-chain compounds on the surface of QDs to become nonionic. Compared with the ionic liquid QDs, nonionic liquid QDs based on supramolecular self-assembly offered a strong, fast host-guest interaction, avoiding multistep reactions that would be more favorable for maintaining the fluorescent property of QDs.