Facile synthesis of ZnS-CuInS2-alloyed nanocrystals for a color-tunable fluorchrome and photocatalyst

Hybridized quantum dot, silica, and gold nanoparticles for targeted chemo-radiotherapy in colorectal cancer theranostics

Multimodal nanoparticles, utilizing quantum dots (QDs), mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), offer substantial potential as a smart and targeted drug delivery system for simultaneous cancer therapy and imaging. This method entails coating magnetic GZCIS/ZnS QDs with mesoporous silica, loading epirubicin into the pores, capping with Au NPs, PEGylation, and conjugating with epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) aptamers to actively target colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. This study showcases the hybrid QD@MSN-EPI-Au-PEG-Apt nanocarriers (size ~65 nm) with comprehensive characterizations post-synthesis. In vitro studies demonstrate the selective cytotoxicity of these targeted nanocarriers towards HT-29 cells compared to CHO cells, leading to a significant reduction in HT-29 cell survival when combined with irradiation. Targeted delivery of nanocarriers in vivo is validated by enhanced anti-tumor effects with reduced side effects following chemo-radiotherapy, along with imaging in a CRC mouse model. This approach holds promise for improved CRC theranostics.

One-pot synthesis of Ag-In-Ga-S nanocrystals embedded in a Ga2O3 matrix and enhancement of band-edge emission by Na+ doping

I-III-VI-based semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been intensively explored because of their unique controllable optoelectronic properties. Here we report one-pot synthesis of Na-doped Ag-In-Ga-S (AIGS) QDs incorporated in a Ga2O3 matrix. The obtained QDs showed a sharp band-edge photoluminescence peak at 557 nm without a broad-defect site emission. The PL quantum yield (QY) of such QDs was 58%, being much higher than that of AIGS QDs without Na+ doping, 29%. The obtained Na-doped AIGS/Ga2O3 composite particles were used as an emitting layer of green QD light-emitted diodes. A sharp electroluminescence (EL) peak was observed at 563 nm, being similar to that in the PL spectrum of the QDs used. The external quantum efficiency of the device was 0.6%.

Copper indium sulfide quantum dots in photocatalysis

Since the advent of photocatalytic technology, scientists have been searching for semiconductor materials with high efficiency in solar energy utilization and conversion to chemical energy. Recently, the development of quantum dot (QD) photocatalysts has attracted much attention because of their unique characteristics: small size, quantum effects, strong surface activity, and wide photoresponse range. Among ternary chalcogenide semiconductors, CuInS₂ QDs are increasingly examined in the field of photocatalysis due to their high absorption coefficients, good matching of the absorption range with sunlight spectrum, long lifetimes of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and environmental sustainability. In this review paper, the structural and electronic properties, synthesis methods and various photocatalytic applications of CuInS₂ QDs are systematically expounded. The current research status on the photocatalytic properties of materials based on CuInS₂ QD is discussed combined with the existing modification approaches for the enhancement of their performances. Future challenges and new development opportunities of CuInS₂ QDs in the field of photocatalysis are then prospected.

Anisotropic Heavy-Metal-Free Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Heavy-metal (Cd, Hg, and Pb)-containing semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) have been explored widely due to their unique optical and electrical properties. However, the toxicity risks of heavy metals can be a drawback of heavy-metal-containing NCs in some applications. Anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs are desirable replacements and can be realized following the establishment of anisotropic growth mechanisms. These anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs can possess lower toxicity risks, while still exhibiting unique optical and electrical properties originating from both the morphological and compositional anisotropy. As a result, they are promising light-emitting materials in use various applications. In this review, we provide an overview on the syntheses, properties, and applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free semiconductor NCs. In the first section, we discuss hazards of heavy metals and introduce the typical heavy-metal-containing and heavy-metal-free NCs. In the next section, we discuss anisotropic growth mechanisms, including solution-liquid-solid (SLS), oriented attachment, ripening, templated-assisted growth, and others. We discuss mechanisms leading both to morphological anisotropy and to compositional anisotropy. Examples of morphological anisotropy include growth of nanorods (NRs)/nanowires (NWs), nanotubes, nanoplatelets (NPLs)/nanosheets, nanocubes, and branched structures. Examples of compositional anisotropy, including heterostructures and core/shell structures, are summarized. Third, we provide insights into the properties of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs including optical polarization, fast electron transfer, localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR), and so on, which originate from the NCs' anisotropic morphologies and compositions. Finally, we summarize some applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs including catalysis, solar cells, photodetectors, lighting-emitting diodes (LEDs), and biological applications. Despite the huge progress on the syntheses and applications of anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs, some issues still exist in the novel anisotropic heavy-metal-free NCs and the corresponding energy conversion applications. Therefore, we also discuss the challenges of this field and provide possible solutions to tackle these challenges in the future.

Luminescent AgGaSe2/ZnSe nanocrystals: rapid synthesis, color tunability, aqueous phase transfer, and bio-labeling application

The unique optoelectronic properties of I-III-VI₂ nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted extensive attention. Herein, element Se in oleylamine reduced by alkythiol, which has been demonstrated to generate highly reactive alkylammonium selenide, was selected as the Se precursor by us to successfully synthesize high-quality tetragonal AgGaSe₂ NCs via a facile colloidal method in just 2 minutes. Further, the photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-synthesized AgGaSe₂ NCs were systematically optimized through utilizing one Zn precursor to integrate shell coating and anionic/cationic alloying strategies into our reactive system, resulting in not only the obvious improvement of PL intensity but also tunable PL color from blue to red. Furthermore, the ligand exchange approach was adopted for the aqueous phase transfer of the oleophilic AgGaSe₂/ZnSe NCs. Our data suggest that either metalated mercaptopropionic acid (Zn-MPA) short- or 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid long-chain ligand exchanged NCs all could maintain the original high crystallinity, present good water solubility, and retain up to nearly 95% and 70% of the initial PL intensity, respectively. Benefiting from the low cytotoxicity, the water-soluble AgGaSe₂/ZnSe NCs can be applied as a fluorescent probe in cell imaging and signal labels for the fluoroimmunoassay of prostate-specific antigen, implying their potential in biological application.

Controlled synthesis of silver-based ternary quantum dots with outstanding luminescence

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted much attention over the past decades due to their outstanding properties. However, obtaining QDs with excellent photoluminescence and quantum yields (QYs) from their aqueous synthesis is still a big concern. We herein present a green and facile synthesis of AgInS (AIS) QDs and AgInS-ZnS (AIS-ZnS) core-shell QDs using a combination of two capping agents (glutathione and sodium citrate). The temporal evolution of the optical properties is investigated by varying the reaction time and pH of the solution. The results show that the fluorescence intensity of the QDs increases as the reaction time increase, while the emission position blue-shift as the pH of the solution increase. An outstanding photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 90% is obtained at optimized synthetic conditions. The Fourier transform Infrared studies confirm efficient passivation of the QDs by the capping agents. The XRD analysis reveals that all the materials crystallize in the tetragonal crystalline phase, while the TEM micrographs of AIS-ZnS QDs reveal a spherical shape. The EDS analysis confirms the presence of Silver, Indium, Sulphide, and Zinc elements. The reported synthetic route is facile and eco-friendly.

Thermo-Induced Fluorochromism in Two AIE Zinc Complexes: A Deep Insight into the Structure-Property Relationship

Solid-state emitters exhibiting mechano-fluorochromic or thermo-fluorochromic responses represent the foundation of smart tools for novel technological applications. Among fluorochromic (FC) materials, solid-state emissive coordination complexes offer a variety of fluorescence responses related to the dynamic of noncovalent metal-ligand coordination bonds. Relevant FC behaviour can result from the targeted choice of metal cation and ligands. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of two different colour emitters consisting of zinc complexes obtained from N,O bidentate ligands with different electron-withdrawing substituents. The two complexes are blue and orange solid-state fluorophores, respectively, highly responsive to thermal and mechanical stress. These emitters show a very different photoluminescent (PL) pattern as recorded before and after the annealing treatment. Through X-ray structural analysis combined with thermal analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, PL, and DFT simulation we provide a comprehensive analysis of the structural feature involved in the fluorochromic response. Notably, we were able to correlate the on-off thermo-fluorochromism of the complexes with the structural rearrangement at the zinc coordination core.

A review on I-III-VI ternary quantum dots for fluorescence detection of heavy metals ions in water: optical properties, synthesis and application

Heavy metal contamination remains a major threat to the environment. Evaluating the concentrations of heavy metals in water environments is a crucial step towards a viable treatment strategy. Non-cadmium photo-luminescent I-III-VI ternary QDs have attracted increasing attention due to their low toxicity and extraordinary optical properties, which have made them popular in biological applications. Recently, ternary I-III-VI-QDs have gained growing interest as fluorescent detectors of heavy metal ions in water. Here, we review the research progress of ternary I-III-VI QDs for the fluorescence detection of heavy metal ions in water. First, we summarize the optical properties and synthesis methodologies of ternary I-III-VI QDs. Then, we present various detection mechanisms involved in the fluorescence detection of heavy metal ions, which are mostly attributed to direct interaction between these unique QDs and the metal ions, seen in the form of fluorescence quenching and fluorescence enhancement. We also display the potential applications in environmental remediation such as water treatment and associated challenges of I-III-VI QDs in the fluorescence detection of Cu2+ and other metal ions.

Organic-to-Aqueous Phase Transfer of Alloyed AgInS2-ZnS Nanocrystals Using Simple Hydrophilic Ligands: Comparison of 11-Mercaptoundecanoic Acid, Dihydrolipoic Acid and Cysteine

The exchange of primary hydrophobic ligands for hydrophilic ones was studied for two types of alloyed AgInS₂-ZnS nanocrystals differing in composition and by consequence exhibiting two different emission colors: red (R) and green (G). Three simple hydrophilic ligands were tested, namely, 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, dihydrolipoic acid and cysteine. In all cases, stable aqueous colloidal dispersions were obtained. Detailed characterization of the nanocrystal surface before and after the ligand exchange by NMR spectroscopy unequivocally showed that the exchange process was the most efficient in the case of dihydrolipoic acid, leading to the complete removal of the primary ligands with a relatively small photoluminescence quantum yield drop from 68% to 40% for nanocrystals of the R type and from 48% to 28% for the G ones.

The Photoluminescence and Biocompatibility of CuInS2-Based Ternary Quantum Dots and Their Biological Applications

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have become a unique class of materials with great potential for applications in biomedical and optoelectronic devices. However, conventional QDs contains toxic heavy metals such as Pb, Cd and Hg. Hence, it is imperative to find an alternative material with similar optical properties and low cytotoxicity. Among these materials, CuInS2 (CIS) QDs have attracted a lot of interest due to their direct band gap in the infrared region, large optical absorption coefficient and low toxic composition. These factors make them a good material for biomedical application. This review starts with the origin and photophysical characteristics of CIS QDs. This is followed by various synthetic strategies, including synthesis in organic and aqueous solvents, and the tuning of their optical properties. Lastly, their significance in various biological applications is presented with their prospects in clinical applications.

Multinary copper-based chalcogenide nanocrystal systems from the perspective of device applications

Multinary chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals are a unique class of materials as they offer flexibility in composition, structure, and morphology for controlled band gap and optical properties. They offer a vast selection of materials for energy conversion, storage, and harvesting applications. Among the multinary chalcogenides, Cu-based compounds are the most attractive in terms of sustainability as many of them consist of earth-abundant elements. There has been immense progress in the field of Cu-based chalcogenides for device applications in the recent years. This paper reviews the state of the art synthetic strategies and application of multinary Cu-chalcogenide nanocrystals in photovoltaics, photocatalysis, light emitting diodes, supercapacitors, and luminescent solar concentrators. This includes the synthesis of ternary, quaternary, and quinary Cu-chalcogenide nanocrystals. The review also highlights some emerging experimental and computational characterization approaches for multinary Cu-chalcogenide semiconductor nanocrystals. It discusses the use of different multinary Cu-chalcogenide compounds, achievements in device performance, and the recent progress made with multinary Cu-chalcogenide nanocrystals in various energy conversion and energy storage devices. The review concludes with an outlook on some emerging and future device applications for multinary Cu-chalcogenides, such as scalable luminescent solar concentrators and wearable biomedical electronics.

One-Pot Synthesis of High-Quality AgGaS2/ZnS-based Photoluminescent Nanocrystals with Widely Tunable Band Gap

Herein, we present a facile colloidal method to synthesize the high-quality AgGaS₂ nanocrystals (NCs) within 2 min via exploiting the high-reactivity S precursor and then extend this synthetic strategy to the preparation of AgGaS₂/ZnS core-shell NCs by a one-pot method without prior purification of AgGaS₂ core. The as-synthesized samples were structurally characterized to confrim the formation of AgGaS₂/ZnS core-shell NCs. The energy band gap of the AgGaS₂/ZnS NCs can be effectively tunable from 2.98 to 2.83 eV by the control of their nonstoichiometry and further continuously decreases to 1.90 eV by the preparation of alloyed AgGa_xIn_1-xS₂/ZnS NCs (1 ≤ x ≤ 0). Benefitting from the efficient band gap modulations, the photoluminescence (PL) colors of the AgGaS₂-based NCs can cover almost the whole visible region from blue (460 nm) to red (671 nm). Our work demonstrates the one-pot synthesis of AgGaS₂/ZnS core-shell NCs and their band gap engineering, which is of crucial in scalability toward industrial application and in tailoring optical characteristics of I-III-VI₂ materials.

ZCIS/ZnS QDs fluorescent aerogels with tunable emission prepared from porous 3D nanofibrillar bacterial cellulose

Bacterial cellulose (BC) features a nanofibrillar network structure that can provide a good template for quantum dots (QDs), to overcome the fluorescence quenching-effect of QDs in polymer composites. Here, we fabricated novel fluorescent aerogels with tunable emission by covalently binding environmentally-friendly ZnS(CuInS₂)/ZnS core-shell quantum dots along the nanofibrillar BC. A new ligand of 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane allows QDs to transfer from toluene to alcohol solvent and stably bind to the BC. After supercritical CO₂ drying, the resulting BC-QDs aerogels maintain the porous nanofibrillar morphology of BC with ultra-light-weight, the QDs are well-distributed along the BC fiber surfaces without aggregation. The emission wavelength can be tuned in a wide range from 470 to 750 nm by simply adjusting the QDs core component or shell layers. This work provides a new approach for fabricating QDs-polymer hydrogels and aerogels with well distributed QDs via chemical binding that potential as smart sensor, catalysis, and 3D display applications.

Full-color-emitting (CuInS2)ZnS-alloyed core/shell quantum dots with trimethoxysilyl end-capped ligands soluble in an ionic liquid

Zinc-copper-indium sulfide (ZCIS)-alloyed quantum dots are emerging as a new family of low toxic I-III-VI semiconductors due to their broad and color-tunable emissions as well as large Stokes shifts. Here, we fabricated a series of ZCIS QDs with tunable PL wavelengths and band-gap energies via a facile strategy by varying the ratio of A1-3 stock (Cu+/In3+) to the B stock (Zn2+) content. The ZnS shell was formed to improve the PL emission efficiency of the core nanoparticles and the PL emission wavelength of the resulting ZCIS/ZnS NCs gradually blue-shifted with an increase in the number of shell layers, resulting in a wide range of emissions from 800 nm to 518 nm that can be tuned by the core compositions or shell layer numbers for ZCIS/ZnS. Finally, the long-chain ligands dodecanethiol/octadecylamine on the quantum dots' surface were efficiently replaced by (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane, thus enabling their solubility in an ionic liquid, which was confirmed via GC-MS. It also benefited for the co-dissolution of the polymers and chemical binding with other materials through the reactive silanol group, which provide stable and well-distributed ZCIS/ZnS QDs composites or surface coating by the QDs.

Highly Active Agro-Waste-Extracted Cellulose-Supported CuInS2 Nanocomposite for Visible-Light-Induced Photocatalysis

Agro-waste-extracted cellulose-supported CuInS₂ nanocomposites were hydrothermally synthesized with significant photocatalytic activity under the influence of cellulose as a polymeric natural support that offers delay in electron-hole life. Delayed recombination process of electrons and holes was perceived by parting of cellulose as a barrier or edge during photochemical reaction, which overall enhances the lifetime of photocatalyst. The photodegradation efficiency over five consecutive cycles along with scavenging studies have been examined for RhB dye under visible light. The boosted photodegradation rate was observed at an optimum amount of cellulose (200 mg), which is ∼10 times higher than pristine CuInS₂.

Noninvasive Tracking and Regenerative Capabilities of Transplanted Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with I-III-IV Semiconducting Nanocrystals in Liver-Injured Living Mice

Acute liver injury is a critical syndrome ascribed to prevalent death of hepatocytes and imperatively requires liver transplantation. Such a methodology is certainly hampered due to the deficit of healthy donors. In this regard, stem cell-based regenerative therapies are attractive in repairing injured tissues and organs for medical applications. However, it is crucial to understand the migration, engraftment, and regeneration capabilities of transplanted stem cells in the living animal models. For the first time, we demonstrate rapid labeling of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with near-infrared (NIR)-fluorescent CuInS₂-ZnS nanocrystals (CIZS-NCs) to develop innovative nanobioconjugates (MSCs-CIZS-NBCs) that exhibit 98% labeling efficiency. Before nanobioconjugate synthesis, the pristine CIZS-NCs were prepared via a two-step, hot-injection, rapid and low-cost domestic-microwave-refluxing (MW-R) method within 6 min. The as-synthesized CIZS-NCs display high photoluminescence quantum yield (∼88%) and long-lived lifetime (23.4 μs). In contrast to unlabeled MSCs, the MSCs-CIZS nanobioconjugates show excellent biocompatibility without affecting the stemness, as confirmed by cell viability, immunophenotyping (CD44⁺, CD105⁺, CD90⁺), multi-lineage-specific gene expressions, and differentiation into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. The in vivo fluorescence tracking analyses revealed that the MSCs-CIZS-NBCs after tail-vein injection were initially trapped in the lungs and gradually engrafted in the injured liver within 2 h. The regeneration potential of MSCs-CIZS-NBCs was confirmed via renewal of the portal tract composed of portal veins, bile ducts, and hepatic arteries around the hepatocytes. Consequently, no apparent inflammations, necrosis, or apoptosis was observed in the acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver-injured BALB/c mice model over 3 days after transplantation, as corroborated using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and histopathological and hematological analyses. Hence, our innovative NIR-fluorescent MSCs-CIZS-NBCs offer an off-the-self technology for noninvasive tracking of transplanted MSCs in an acute-liver-injured animal model for future image-guided cell-therapies.

Tunable Emission of Bluish Zn-Cu-Ga-S Quantum Dots by Mn Doping and Their Electroluminescence

On the basis of bluish-emitting double-shelled quantum dots (QDs) of Zn-Cu-Ga-S (ZCGS)/ZnS/ZnS, Mn doping into ZCGS host with different Mn/Cu concentrations is implemented via surface adsorption and lattice diffusion. The resulting double-shelled Mn-doped ZCGS (ZCGS/Mn) QDs exhibit a distinct Mn^2+ 4T₁-⁶A₁ emission as a consequence of effective lattice incorporation simultaneously with host intragap states-involving emissions of free-to-bound and donor-acceptor pair recombinations. The relative contribution of Mn emission to the overall photoluminescence (PL) is consistently proportional to its concentration, resulting in tunable PL from bluish, white, to reddish white. Regardless of Mn doping and its concentration, all QDs possess high PL quantum yield levels of 74-79%. Those undoped and doped QDs are then employed as an emitting layer (EML) of all-solution-processed QD-light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with hybrid charge transport layers and their electroluminescence (EL) is compared. Compared to undoped QDs, doped analogues give rise to a huge spectral disparity of EL versus PL, specifically showing a near-complete quenching of Mn²⁺ EL. This unexpected observation is rationalized primarily by considering unbalanced carrier injection to QD EML on the basis of energetic alignment of the present QLED and rapid trapping of holes injected at intragap states of QDs.

Biocompatible off-stoichiometric copper indium sulfide quantum dots with tunable near-infrared emission via aqueous based synthesis

Off-stoichiometry effects on the near-infrared emission of the aqueous based biocompatible copper indium sulfide quantum dots are revealed.

Room-Temperature Ionic-Liquid-Assisted Microwave Preparation of Tunable Photoluminescent Copper-Indium-Zinc-Sulfide Quantum Dots

A facile approach towards photoluminescent (PL) Cu-In-Zn-S quantum dots (CIZS QDs) has been developed, comprising microwave treatment with the assist of room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). Because of its high polarizability, RTIL served as a microwave absorbent, which resulted in the increase of the instantaneous nucleation rate and the rapid synthesis of CIZS QDs at low temperature. Moreover, the surface decoration of QDs with RTIL can passivate the surface defects greatly. The PL intensity of the CIZS QDs depends on the anion species, alkyl chain length of the RTIL, and the metal element ratios of the QDs. On the basis of the variable PL peak position and extended luminescence lifetime of the CIZS QDs, the superior emission behavior of the QDs was confirmed by surface etching with fluoride produced by the hydrolysis of RTIL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF₄ ). Moreover, the intermediate alkyl chain length of the RTIL can avoid aggregation, which results in the construction of CIZS QDs with homogenous size distribution. The shape-controlled CIZS QDs show a broadened tunable emission peak from 677 to 579 nm compared with that of QDs prepared by a conventional one-pot method by mixing the raw materials. CIZS QDs also exhibit a high quantum yield (QY) of 24.1 % after coating with a ZnS shell. This method is expected to be a useful technique for the rapid synthesis of multiple QDs with a wider range of emission wavelengths and higher QY for a variety of applications.

Halide exchange and surface modification of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals with alkyltrichlorosilanes

Metal halide perovskite nanocrystals have recently emerged as promising materials for light emitting displays and lasing applications due to their narrow emission wavelengths, high photoluminescence quantum yields, and readily adjustable emission wavelengths. For these metal halide perovskite nanocrystals to be useful in commercial applications, their stability must be increased and the photoluminescence quantum yields of the iodide (red emitting) and chloride (blue emitting) containing derivatives must also be increased. The photoluminescence quantum yields of blue emitting CsPbCl3 nanoparticles lag behind those of green emitting CsPbBr3 nanoparticles, with maximum photoluminescence quantum yields of 1-10% previously reported for CsPbCl3 as compared to 80-100% for CsPbBr3. Herein, we show that alkyltrichlorosilanes (R-SiCl3) can be used as Cl-sources for rapid anion exchange with host CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. This anion exchange reaction is advantageous in that it can be performed at room temperature and results in highly dispersible nanoparticles coated with siloxane shells. CsPbCl3 nanoparticles produced through Cl-exchange with R-SiCl3 show significantly improved long-term stability and high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 12%. These siloxane coated nanocrystals are even stable in the presence of water, whereas CsPbCl3 nanoparticles synthesized through other routes rapidly degrade in the presence of water.

Solar light harvesting with multinary metal chalcogenide nanocrystals

The paper reviews the state of the art in the synthesis of multinary (ternary, quaternary and more complex) metal chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) and their applications as a light absorbing or an auxiliary component of light-harvesting systems. This includes solid-state and liquid-junction solar cells and photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical systems designed for the conversion of solar light into the electric current or the accumulation of solar energy in the form of products of various chemical reactions. The review discusses general aspects of the light absorption and photophysical properties of multinary metal chalcogenide NCs, the modern state of the synthetic strategies applied to produce the multinary metal chalcogenide NCs and related nanoheterostructures, and recent achievements in the metal chalcogenide NC-based solar cells and the photocatalytic/photoelectrochemical systems. The review is concluded by an outlook with a critical discussion of the most promising ways and challenging aspects of further progress in the metal chalcogenide NC-based solar photovoltaics and photochemistry.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics and third-order nonlinear optical properties of AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals

Broad photoluminescence (PL) emission, a large Stokes shift and extremely long-lived radiative lifetimes are the characteristics of ternary I-III-VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), such as CuInS₂ and AgInS₂. However, the lack of understanding regarding the intriguing PL mechanisms and photo-carrier dynamics limits their further applications. Here, AgInS₂ and AgInS₂/ZnS NCs were chemically synthesized and their carrier dynamics were studied by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the surface defect state, which contributed dominantly to the non-radiative decay processes, was effectively passivated through ZnS alloying. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was also used to investigate the carrier dynamics, revealing the electron storage at the surface state and donor state. Furthermore, the two photon absorption properties of AgInS₂ and AgInS₂/ZnS NCs were measured using an open-aperture Z-scan technique. The improved third-order nonlinear susceptibility [Formula: see text] of AgInS₂ through ZnS alloying demonstrates potential application in two photon PL biological imaging.

Cd-free Cu-doped ZnInS/ZnS Core/Shell Nanocrystals: Controlled Synthesis And Photophysical Properties

Here, we report efficient composition-tunable Cu-doped ZnInS/ZnS (core and core/shell) colloidal nanocrystals (CNCs) synthesized by using a colloidal non-injection method. The initial precursors for the synthesis were used in oleate form rather than in powder form, resulting in a nearly defect-free photoluminescence (PL) emission. The change in Zn/In ratio tunes the percentage incorporation of Cu in CNCs. These highly monodisperse Cu-doped ZnInS CNCs having variable Zn/In ratios possess peak emission wavelength tunable from 550 to 650 nm in the visible spectrum. The quantum yield (QY) of these synthesized Cd-free CNCs increases from 6.0 to 65.0% after coating with a ZnS shell. The CNCs possessing emission from a mixed contribution of deep trap and dopant states to only dominant dopant-related Stokes-shifted emission are realized by a careful control of stoichiometric ratio of different reactant precursors during synthesis. The origin of this shift in emission was understood by using steady state and time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) spectroscopy studies. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, these blue excitable Cu-doped ZnInS/ZnS CNCs have been integrated with commercial blue LEDs to generate white-light emission (WLE). The suitable combination of these highly efficient doped CNCs results led to a Commission Internationale de l'Enclairage (CIE) color coordinates of (0.33, 0.31) at a color coordinate temperature (CCT) of 3694 K, with a luminous efficacy of optical radiation (LER) of 170 lm/Wopt and a color rendering index (CRI) of 88.

Achieving deep-red-to-near-infrared emissions in Sn-doped Cu-In-S/ZnS quantum dots for red-enhanced white LEDs and near-infrared LEDs

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are promising luminescent materials for use in lighting, display and bio-imaging, and the color tuning is a necessity for such applications. In this work, we report tunable colors and deep-red or near infrared (NIR) emissions in Cu-In-S and Cu-In-S/ZnS QDs by incorporating Sn. These QDs (with a size of 5 nm) with varying Sn concentrations and/or Cu/In ratios were synthesized by a non-injection method, and characterized by a variety of analytical techniques (i.e., XRD, TEM, XPS, absorption, photoluminescence, decay time, etc.). The Cu-Sn-In-S and Cu-Sn-In-S/ZnS QDs with Cu/In = 1/2 show the emission maximum in the ranges of 701-894 nm and 628-785 nm, respectively. The red-shift in emission is ascribed to the decrease of the band gap with the Sn doping. The highest quantum yield of 75% is achieved in Cu-Sn-In-S/ZnS with 0.1 mmol Sn and Cu/In = 1/2. Both the white and NIR LEDs were fabricated by using Cu-Sn-In-S/ZnS QDs and a 365 nm LED chip. The white LED exhibits superhigh color rendering indices of Ra = 97.2 and R9 = 91 and a warm color temperature of 2700 K. And the NIR LED shows an interesting broadband near-infrared emission centered at 741 nm, allowing for applications in optical communication, sensing and medical devices.

Bright violet-to-aqua-emitting cadmium-free Ag-doped Zn-Ga-S quantum dots with high stability

Herein, we report a new series of ultra-stable Cd-free Ag:Zn-Ga-S/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) with an overall short emission wavelength tunable from 370 to 540 nm via a facile one-pot non-injection method. The highest PL quantum yield of the resultant core/shell QDs could be up to 85%, and the exceptional luminescence could be maintained not only at 300 °C but also after phase transfer.

Brightly Luminescent Cu-Zn-In-S/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots in Salt Matrices

In the past decades cadmium-free quantum dots (QDs), among which are quaternary colloidal Cu-Zn-In-S/ZnS (CZIS/ZnS) core/shell nanocrystals (NCs), have attracted great scientific interest. Particularly, their low toxicity and the possibility to tune their photoluminescence (PL) properties by varying the composition in the multicomponent system make them highly attractive for applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Thus, the demands for high quality CZIS/ZnS QDs and methods to process them into bulk materials stimulate investigations of these nanomaterials. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of CZIS/ZnS core/shell NCs via a surfactant induced nucleation process, which emit in various colors covering the range from 520 nm to 620 nm possessing high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) up to 47%. Furthermore, the as synthesized NCs were successfully integrated into two different salt matrices [Na2B4O7 (Borax) and LiCl] using two different approaches. The commonly used incorporation of the NCs into Borax salt led to salt crystals emitting from 540 nm to 600 nm with PLQYs up to 24%. By encapsulating the QDs into LiCl, brightly emitting NCs-in-LiCl powders with the PL covering a range from 520 nm to 650 nm with PLQYs of up to 14% were obtained. As a proof of concept, the fabrication of a color conversion LED using NCs encapsulated into LiCl demonstrated the applicability of the encapsulated NCs.

From Large-Scale Synthesis to Lighting Device Applications of Ternary I-III-VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Inspiring Greener Material Emitters

Quantum dots with fabulous size-dependent and color-tunable emissions remained as one of the most exciting inventories in nanomaterials for the last 3 decades. Even though a large number of such dot nanocrystals were developed, CdSe still remained as unbeatable and highly trusted lighting nanocrystals. Beyond these, the ternary I-III-VI family of nanocrystals emerged as the most widely accepted greener materials with efficient emissions tunable in visible as well as NIR spectral windows. These bring the high possibility of their implementation as lighting materials acceptable to the community and also to the environment. Keeping these in mind, in this Perspective, the latest developments of ternary I-III-VI nanocrystals from their large-scale synthesis to device applications are presented. Incorporating ZnS, tuning the composition, mixing with other nanocrystals, and doping with Mn ions, light-emitting devices of single color as well as for generating white light emissions are also discussed. In addition, the future prospects of these materials in lighting applications are also proposed.

ZnO nanoparticles sensitized by CuInZn x S2+x quantum dots as highly efficient solar light driven photocatalysts

Alloyed CuInZn _x S_2+x (ZCIS) quantum dots (QDs) were successfully associated to ZnO nanoparticles by a thermal treatment at 400 °C for 15 min. The ZnO/ZCIS composite was characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, XPS and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. ZCIS QDs, with an average diameter of ≈4.5 nm, were found to be homogeneously distributed at the surface of ZnO nanoparticles. ZCIS-sensitized ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a high photocatalytic activity under simulated solar light irradiation for the degradation of Orange II dye (>95% degradation after 180 min of irradiation at an intensity of 5 mW/cm²). The heterojunction built between the ZnO nanoparticle and ZCIS QDs not only extends the light adsorption range by the photocatalyst but also acts to decrease electron/hole recombination. Interestingly, the ZnO/ZCIS composite was found to produce increased amounts of H₂O₂ and singlet oxygen ¹O₂ compared to ZnO, suggesting that these reactive oxygen species play a key role in the photodegradation mechanism. The activity of the ZnO/ZCIS composite is retained at over 90% of its original value after ten successive photocatalytic runs, indicating its high stability and its potential for practical photocatalytic applications.

Recent Progress in Energy-Driven Water Splitting

Hydrogen is readily obtained from renewable and non-renewable resources via water splitting by using thermal, electrical, photonic and biochemical energy. The major hydrogen production is generated from thermal energy through steam reforming/gasification of fossil fuel. As the commonly used non-renewable resources will be depleted in the long run, there is great demand to utilize renewable energy resources for hydrogen production. Most of the renewable resources may be used to produce electricity for driving water splitting while challenges remain to improve cost-effectiveness. As the most abundant energy resource, the direct conversion of solar energy to hydrogen is considered the most sustainable energy production method without causing pollutions to the environment. In overall, this review briefly summarizes thermolytic, electrolytic, photolytic and biolytic water splitting. It highlights photonic and electrical driven water splitting together with photovoltaic-integrated solar-driven water electrolysis.

Compound Copper Chalcogenide Nanocrystals

This review captures the synthesis, assembly, properties, and applications of copper chalcogenide NCs, which have achieved significant research interest in the last decade due to their compositional and structural versatility. The outstanding functional properties of these materials stems from the relationship between their band structure and defect concentration, including charge carrier concentration and electronic conductivity character, which consequently affects their optoelectronic, optical, and plasmonic properties. This, combined with several metastable crystal phases and stoichiometries and the low energy of formation of defects, makes the reproducible synthesis of these materials, with tunable parameters, remarkable. Further to this, the review captures the progress of the hierarchical assembly of these NCs, which bridges the link between their discrete and collective properties. Their ubiquitous application set has cross-cut energy conversion (photovoltaics, photocatalysis, thermoelectrics), energy storage (lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen generation), emissive materials (plasmonics, LEDs, biolabelling), sensors (electrochemical, biochemical), biomedical devices (magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray computer tomography), and medical therapies (photochemothermal therapies, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and drug delivery). The confluence of advances in the synthesis, assembly, and application of these NCs in the past decade has the potential to significantly impact society, both economically and environmentally.

Synthetic strategies and biomedical applications of I–III–VI ternary quantum dots

In this review, we discuss recent advances of I–III–VI QDs with a major focus on synthesis and biomedical applications; advantages include low toxicity and fluorescent tuning in the biological window.

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of yellow-emitting CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots embedded in TMAS-derived silica

Photostable silica composites containing CuInS₂/ZnS/ZnS quantum dots were fabricated using a sol–gel method. Their photoluminescence quantum yields were 43–47%.

Zinc dopant inspired enhancement of electron injection for CuInS2quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

The PCE of doped CuInS₂QDSCs increased from 5.21% to 5.90%, due to broadened optoelectronic response range and accelerated electron injection.

Bandgap and Structure Engineering via Cation Exchange: From Binary Ag2S to Ternary AgInS2, Quaternary AgZnInS alloy and AgZnInS/ZnS Core/Shell Fluorescent Nanocrystals for Bioimaging

Attention on semiconductor nanocrystals have been largely focused because of their unique optical and electrical properties, which can be applied as light absorber and luminophore. However, the band gap and structure engineering of nanomaterials is not so easy because of their finite size. Here we demonstrate an approach for preparing ternary AgInS2 (AIS), quaternary AgZnInS (AZIS), AgInS2/ZnS and AgZnInS/ZnS nanocompounds based on cation exchange. First, pristine Ag2S quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes were synthesized in one-pot, followed by the partial cation exchange between In(3+) and Ag(+). Changing the initial ratio of In(3+) to Ag(+), reaction time and temperature can control the components of the obtained AIS QDs. Under the optimized conditions, AIS QDs were obtained for the first time with a cation disordered cubic phase and high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) up to 32% in aqueous solution, demonstrating the great potential of cation exchange in the synthesis for nanocrystals with excellent optical properties. Sequentially, Zn(2+) ions were incorporated in situ through a second exchange of Zn(2+) to Ag(+)/In(3+), leading to distinct results under different reaction temperature. Addition of Zn(2+) precursor at room temperature produced AIS/ZnS core/shell NCs with successively enhancement of QY, while subsequent heating could obtain AZIS homogeneous alloy QDs with a successively blue-shift of PL emission. This allow us to tune the PL emission of the products from 483 to 675 nm and fabricate the chemically stable QDs core/ZnS shell structure. Based on the above results, a mechanism about the cation exchange for the ternary nanocrystals of different structures was proposed that the balance between cation exchange and diffusion is the key factor of controlling the band gap and structure of the final products. Furthermore, photostability and in vitro experiment demonstrated quite low cytotoxicity and remarkably promising applications in the field of clinical diagnosis.

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of quaternary ZnAgInS quantum dots

A series of ZnAgInS (ZAIS) quantum dots were synthesized and their optical properties were tuned by adjusting the reaction times from 5 to 30 min. The emission spectra were observed ranging from 619 to 667 nm. The temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of ZAIS QDs were investigated from 10 K to 300 K that show a blue shift of spectra line with increasing intensity as well as broadening of spectral line owing to the coupling of the carrier to acoustic phonon. We have also discussed and investigated the internal luminescence mechanism of ZAIS QDs.

Stable and Flexible CuInS2/ZnS:Al-TiO2 Film for Solar-Light-Driven Photodegradation of Soil Fumigant

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are suitable light absorbers for photocatalysis because of their unique properties. However, QDs generally suffer from poor photochemical stability against air, limiting their applications in photocatalysis. In this study, a stable solar-light-driven QDs-containing photocatalytic film was developed to facilitate photocatalytic degradation of the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D). Highly stable CuInS2/ZnS:Al core/shell QDs (CIS/ZnS:Al QDs) were synthesized by doping Al into the ZnS shell and controlling ZnS:Al shell thickness; the CIS/ZnS:Al QDs were subsequently combined with TiO2 to form a CIS/ZnS:Al-TiO2 photocatalyst. The optimized ZnS:Al shell thickness for 1,3-D photodegradation was approximately 1.3 nm, which guaranteed and balanced the good photocatalytic activity and stability of the CIS/ZnS:Al-TiO2 photocatalyst. The photodegradation efficiency of 1,3-D can be maintained up to more than 80% after five cycles during recycling experiment. When CIS/ZnS:Al-TiO2 was deposited as photocatalytic film on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate, over 99% of cis-1,3-D and 98% of trans-1,3-D were depleted as they passed through the film during 15 h of irradiation under natural solar light. This study demonstrated that the stable CIS/ZnS:Al-TiO2 photocatalyst both in powder and film form is a promising agent for photodegradation and emission reduction of soil fumigants.

Sustainable, Rapid Synthesis of Bright-Luminescent CuInS2-ZnS Alloyed Nanocrystals: Multistage Nano-xenotoxicity Assessment and Intravital Fluorescence Bioimaging in Zebrafish-Embryos

Near-infrared (NIR) luminescent CuInS₂-ZnS alloyed nanocrystals (CIZS-NCs) for highly fluorescence bioimaging have received considerable interest in recent years. Owing, they became a desirable alternative to heavy-metal based-NCs and organic dyes with unique optical properties and low-toxicity for bioimaging and optoelectronic applications. In the present study, bright and robust CIZS-NCs have been synthesized within 5 min, as-high-as 230 °C without requiring any inert-gas atmosphere via microwave-solvothermal (MW-ST) method. Subsequently, the in vitro and in vivo nano-xenotoxicity and cellular uptake of the MUA-functionalized CIZS-NCs were investigated in L929, Vero, MCF7 cell lines and zebrafish-embryos. We observed minimal toxicity and acute teratogenic consequences upto 62.5 μg/ml of the CIZS-NCs in zebrafish-embryos. We also observed spontaneous uptake of the MUA-functionalized CIZS-NCs by 3 dpf older zebrafish-embryos that are evident through bright red fluorescence-emission at a low concentration of 7.8 μg/mL. Hence, we propose that the rapid, low-cost, large-scale “sustainable” MW-ST synthesis of CIZS-NCs, is an ideal bio-nanoprobe with good temporal and spatial resolution for rapid labeling, long-term in vivo tracking and intravital-fluorescence-bioimaging (IVBI).