title: Facile Synthesis of Cadmium-Free Zn-In-S:Ag/ZnS Nanocrystals for Bio-Imaging.
abstract: High quality cadmium-free Zn-In-S:Ag doped-nanocrystals (d-NCs) were synthesized via a simple one-step noninjection route using silver nitrate, indium acetate, zinc acetate, oleylamine, S powder and 1-dodecanethiol as starting materials in an organic phase. The size and optical properties can be effectively tailored by controlling the reaction time, reaction temperature, Ag(+) dopant concentration, and the molar ratio of In to Zn. The photoluminescence wavelength of as-prepared Zn-In-S:Ag NCs covered a broad visible range from 458 nm to 603 nm. After being passivated by protective ZnS shell, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Zn-In-S:Ag(+) /ZnS was greatly improved to 43.5%. More importantly, the initial high PLQY of the obtained core/shell d-NCs in organic media can be preserved when being transferred into the aqueous media via ligand exchange. Finally, high quality Zn-In-S:Ag(+) /ZnS d-NCs in aqueous phase were applied as bio-imaging agents for identifying living KB cells.
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics &Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Materials Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
authors.forename: Tong-Tong
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics &Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Materials Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics &Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Materials Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
authors.forename: Cai-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Sialon Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Namiki 1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
authors.forename: Rong-Jun
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics &Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Materials Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D007204:Indium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000378:metabolism*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D019345:Zinc Acetate / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D007204:Indium; C013976:dodecylmercaptan; D013455:Sulfur; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D019345:Zinc Acetate; C008703:oleylamine