Functionalized photoactive nanocrystals are useful in bio-imaging and energy conversion. Current nanocrystal functionalization methods rely on uncontrolled ligand exchange reactions and limit their use. We present a new strategy for nanocrystal surface functionalization. Using a metal xanthate single-source-precursor, we have synthesized cadmium sulfide nanocrystals containing mixtures of olefin-terminated and saturated surface ligands. Varying the ratio of ligands used during synthesis leads to nanocrystals having different amounts of surface vinyl-capps. These nanocrystals have been characterized using structural (XRD, TEM) and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, PL, IR) methods. When reacted with vinyl-terminated functional groups via cross-olefin metathesis, the number of vinyl-capped ligands allows, for the first time, to control the type and degree of functionalization that can be achieved per nanocrystal.

Vinyl-capped colloidal nanocrystal quantum dots: Synthesis and direct surface functionalization via olefin metathesis

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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