Mixed aerogels from Au and CdTe nanoparticles

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Mixed metal-semiconductor nanocrystal aerogels are fabricated, which are light-emitting and highly porous macroscopic monoliths. Thiol-stabilized CdTe and Au nanoparticles from aqueous synthesis act as building blocks for the hybrid material. The Au colloids undergo a surface-modification to enhance the particle stability and achieve thiol functionalities. A photochemical treatment is applied for the gelation process which is found to be reversible by subsequent addition of thiol molecules. Via supercritical drying aerogels are formed. The variation of the initial CdTe to Au nanoparticle ratio permits a facile tuning of the content and the properties of the resulting aerogels. The obtained structures were characterized by means of optical spectroscopy, electron microscopy, elemental analysis, and nitrogen physisorption.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1903-1911
Number of pages9
JournalAdvanced functional materials
Volume23
Issue number15
Publication statusPublished - 19 Apr 2013
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-8827-2881/work/142232999

Keywords

Keywords

  • aerogels, Au nanocrystals, CdTe nanocrystals, colloidal synthesis, photochemical gelation