Comparative study on coating CdSe nanocrystals with surfactants

We have synthesized CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) in sizes from 2.2 to 5.1 nm passivated with hydrophobic trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in combination trioctylphosphine (TOP) or tributylphosphine (TBP) to obtain particles of the type CdSe/TOPO/TOP or CdSe/TOPO/TBP. These NCs were then dispersed in aqueous solution of ionic or non-ionic surfactants (such as stearate, oleic acid, Tween) using a biphase (water and chloroform or hexane) transfer method. It is found that both the structure of the surfactant and the native surface of the ligand govern the coating of the NCs with surfactants. More specifically, the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity balance of the surfactant regulates the coating efficacy, thereby transferring the NC from the organic to the aqueous phase. The type of ligand on the NCs and the kind of coating surfactant also affect photoluminescence (PL). The ratio of PL and absorbance unit (defined as PL per 0.1 AU) was implemented as a tool to monitor changes in PL intensity and wavelength as a function of size, coatings and surface defects. Finally, the distribution of CdSe nanocrystals between pseudophases in cloud point extraction was discussed based on experimental results. It was concluded that the size of CdSe nanocrystal present in an appropriate pseudophase is correlated with the way in which the non-ionic surfactant coats CdSe nanocrystals. [Figure: see text] ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00604-013-1062-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.