Traditional colloidal synthesis produces nanocrystals (NCs) capped with insulating organic ligands which complicate their applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Our group has developed inorganic ligands such as molecular metal chalcogenide (MCC) and metal-free chalcogenide ligands, providing stabilization of semiconductor NCs without blocking the electronic communication between NCs. Here we explored oxo- molecules and polyoxometalates (POMs) as a new group of inorganic ligands. Oxo-ligands can efficiently functionalize metal oxide NCs that cannot be functionalized with other typical inorganic ligands. Both CdSe and Fe2O3 NCs can be colloidally stabilized with VO43-, MoO42-, WO42-, PO43-, AsO43- etc. Fe2O3 NCs can be further stabilized with POMs such as [PMo12O40]3-, [P2Mo18O62]6- etc. It opens up new ways for fabrication of all inorganic materials using oxo-ligands with interesting electronic or catalytic properties and complements them with the NC properties. Surface modified metal oxides NCs can have promising applications in photocatalysis and lithium batteries.

Surface modification of inorganic nanocrystals with oxo-, polyoxometalate ligands

244th National Meeting (2012)

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