title: Effect of surface modification on semiconductor nanocrystal fluorescence lifetime.
abstract: Semiconductor nanocrystals, namely, quantum dots (QDs), present a set of unique photoluminescence properties, which has led to increased interest in using them as advantageous alternatives to conventional organic dyes. Many applications of QDs involve surface modification to enhance the solubility or biocompatibility of the QDs. One of the least exploited properties of QDs is the very long photoluminescence lifetime that usually has complex kinetics owing to the effect of quantum confinement. Herein, we describe the effect of different surface modifications on the photoluminescence decay kinetics of QDs. The different surface modifications were carefully chosen to provide lipophilic or water-soluble QDs with either positive or negative surface net charges. We also survey the effect on the QD lifetime of several ligands that interact with the QD surface, such as organic chromophores or fluorescent proteins. The results obtained demonstrate that time-resolved fluorescence is a useful tool for QD-based sensing to set the basis for the development of time-resolved-based nanosensors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus Cartuja, 18071, Granada, Spain. mjruedas@ugr.es
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ruedas-Rama
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orte
authors.forename: Elizabeth A H
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Pez
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Talavera
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D045663:Quantum Dots; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006838:Hydrocarbons; C013553:hexadecylamine