The electrochemical preparation of Te2- and Se2- ions was carried out in 0.2 mol L-1 NaOH aqueous solution, with high yield and good stability, through the constant current electrolysis (-30 mA) of Te0 or Se0 powder; and applied in the preparation of negatively charged CdTe and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) . A CdCl2 aqueous solution containing thioglycolic acid (TGA) stabilizer was mixed to the electrochemicallly generated Te2- or Se2- ions in a quite reproducible and clean one pot process, without the use of chemical reducing agents. The CdTe and CdSe QDs showed a good stability and high luminescence with average size (HRTEM) of d = 3.9 nm and 2.6 nm, respectively; quantum yields (50% for CdTe, and 67% for CdSe) and lifetimes (34.2 ns for CdTe and 13.3 ns for CdSe) were also determined. Hg2+ was efficiently quantified in the presence of the synthesized CdTe and CdSe TGA-capped, making possible the application of these QDs as a chemical sensor.

Aqueous medium and eletrochemical method for the synthesis of CdTe and CdSe quantum dots TGA-capped

248th National Meeting (2014)

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