title: A novel strategy towards designing a CdSe quantum dot-metallohydrogel composite material.
abstract: We have described here an efficient method to disperse hydrophobic CdSe quantum dots (QDs) in an aqueous phase using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles without any surface ligand exchange. The water soluble QDs were then embedded in 3D self assembled fibrillar networks (SAFINs) of a hydrogel showing homogeneous dispersibility as evidenced from optical and electron microscopic techniques. The photophysical studies of the hydrogel-QD composite are reported for the first time. These composite materials may have potential applications in biology, optoelectronics, sensors, non-linear optics and materials science.
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India. maitra@orgchem.iisc.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Sayantan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India. maitra@orgchem.iisc.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Uday
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maitra