title: The Dynamic Organic/Inorganic Interface of Colloidal PbS Quantum Dots.
abstract: Colloidal quantum dots are composed of nanometer-sized crystallites of inorganic semiconductor materials bearing organic molecules at their surface. The organic/inorganic interface markedly affects forms and functions of the quantum dots, therefore its description and control are important for effective application. Herein we demonstrate that archetypal colloidal PbS quantum dots adapt their interface to the surroundings, thus existing in solution phase as equilibrium mixtures with their (metal-)organic ligand and inorganic core components. The interfacial equilibria are dictated by solvent polarity and concentration, show striking size dependence (leading to more stable ligand/core adducts for larger quantum dots), and selectively involve nanocrystal facets. This notion of ligand/core dynamic equilibrium may open novel synthetic paths and refined nanocrystal surface-chemistry strategies.
authors.affiliation: CNR NANOTEC-, Istituto di Nanotecnologia, Via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.|DICATECh-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, del Territorio, Edile e di Chimica, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grisorio
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "E. De Giorgi", Università del Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Doriana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Debellis
authors.affiliation: CNR NANOTEC-, Istituto di Nanotecnologia, Via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.|DICATECh-Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, del Territorio, Edile e di Chimica, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Suranna
authors.affiliation: CNR NANOTEC-, Istituto di Nanotecnologia, Via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.|Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "E. De Giorgi", Università del Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gigli
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies@UNILE, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti, 73010, Arnesano, Italy. carlo.giansante@iit.it, carlo.giansante@unisalento.it.|CNR NANOTEC-, Istituto di Nanotecnologia, Via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy. carlo.giansante@iit.it, carlo.giansante@unisalento.it.|Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica "E. De Giorgi", Università del Salento, Via per Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy. carlo.giansante@iit.it, carlo.giansante@unisalento.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4558-5367
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giansante
keywords: colloidal quantum dots; coordination chemistry; dynamic equilibrium; ligands; surface chemistry