Abstract
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► We synthesized and characterized the surface of a new polymeric material using CdSe(ZnS). ► Sol–gel process was applied to silanized CdSe(ZnS) QDs to control the interparticle distance. ► Time effect and subphase pH studies were performed to characterize newly conjugated QDs. ► Functionalized QDs on various pH were studied using AFM and epifluorescence.
The interparticle distance of CdSe(ZnS) quantum dots was accurately controlled by polymerization at the air–water interface which provided an increased homogeneity of the Langmuir–Blodgett film leading to a surface smoothness comparable to mica. The choice of a silane derivative is based on the fact that silicon is semiconductor, and the compound CdSe being the core of the quantum dot is also semiconductor. The combination of the two semiconductors could bring some unusual conduction properties as a polymeric silanized network. But first, it is most important to characterize the smoothness of the surface, which might be correlated to the formation of “trap” states, i.e. the photo-excited electron can fall, or the photo-excited hole can “float”. One will focus our research strategy, as a pilot study, to characterize the surface of the new polymeric material.
