Facile synthesis of high-quality CuInZn xS 2+x core/shell nanocrystals and their application for detection of C-reactive protein

Huaibin Shen, Hang Yuan, Feng Wu, Xianwei Bai, Changhua Zhou, Hongzhe Wang, Tikang Lu, Zhifeng Qin, Lan Ma, Lin Song Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Highly photoluminescent (PL) CuInZn xS 1+x nanocrystals (NCs) and CuInZn xS 1+x/ZnS core/shell NCs were successfully synthesized by a facile colloidal method. First, a facile and reliable non-injection method for the synthesis of photoluminescent CuInZn xS 2+x NCs was developed with inexpensive reagents. The relative PL quantum yields (QYs) of CuInZn xS 2+x NCs could reach up to 30%, with tunable emissions in the range 580-780 nm. Then, CuInZn xS 2+x/ZnS core/shell NCs were synthesized and showed greatly improved optical properties, the PL QY of the CuInZn xS 2+x/ZnS NCs can reach up to 60%. Even in the near-infrared region, the PL QY still can achieve up to 45% due to the successful controlled red shift of PL during the ZnS shell growth process. More importantly, such core/shell NCs can be transferred into water successfully using amphiphilic oligomer (polymaleic acid n-hexadecanol ester) as a surface coating agent by an organic-aqueous phase transfer method and the PL QYs can be well controlled over 40%. Furthermore, a biosensor system (lateral flow immunoassays system, LFIA) for the detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) was developed by using this water-soluble CuInZn xS 2+x/ZnS core/shell NCs as fluorescent label and a nitrocellulose filter membrane for lateral flow. The results showed that such CuInZn xS 2+x/ZnS core/shell NCs were excellent fluorescent labels to detect CRP. The detection sensitivity for CRP could reach 1 ng mL -1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)18623-18630
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry
Volume22
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 21 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

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