• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.489-493
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• 2017

In this study, the surface passivation process for InP-based quantum dots (QDs) is investigated. Surface coating is performed with poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and thioglycolic acid. The quantum yield (QY) of a PMMA-coated sample slightly increases by approximately 1.3% relative to that of the as-synthesized InP/ZnS QDs. The QYs of the uncoated and PMMA-coated samples drastically decrease after 16 days because of the high defect state density of the InP-based QDs. PMMA does not have a significant effect on the defect passivation. Thioglycolic acid is investigated in this study for the effective surface passivation of InP-based QDs. Surface passivation with thioglycolic acid is more effective than that with the PMMA coating, and the QY increases from 1.7% to 11.3%. ZnS formed on the surface of the InP QDs and S in thioglycolic acid show strong bonding property. Additionally, the QY is further increased up to 21.0% by the photochemical reaction. Electron-hole pairs are formed by light irradiation and lead to strong bonding between the inorganic and thioglycolic acid sulfur. The surface of the InP core QDs, which does not emit light, is passivated by the irradiated light and emits green light after the photochemical reaction.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2013

Quantum dots (QDs) have received considerable attention due to their potential role in photosensitization during photodynamic therapy. Although QDS are attractive nanomaterials due to their novel and unique physicochemical properties, concerns about their toxicity remain. We suggest a combination strategy, CdSe/ZnS QDs together with curcumin, a natural yellow pigment from turmeric, to reduce QD-induced cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to explore a potentially effective cancer treatment: co-exposure of HL-60 cells and human normal lymphocytes to CdSe/ZnS QDs and curcumin. Cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA damage induced by QDs and/or curcumin with or without ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation were evaluated in both HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes. In HL-60 cells, cell death, apoptosis, ROS generation, and single/double DNA strand breaks induced by QDs were enhanced by treatment with curcumin and UVA irradiation. The protective effects of curcumin on cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS generation were observed in normal lymphocytes, but not leukemia cells. These results demonstrated that treatment with QD combined with curcumin increased cell death in HL-60 cells, which was mediated by ROS generation. However, curcumin acted as an antioxidant in cultured human normal lymphocytes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2008

QDs-LEDs(quantum dot light emitting device) should contain well-organized arrays of QDs on an electron transport layer. Thin films of CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs were successfully fabricated on $TiO_2$ substrates by using PDMS stamp and micro contact printing method. 2-Carboxyethylphosphonic acid(CAPO) and 1,6-hexanedithiol(HDT) were employed as molecular linkers in assembling CdSe/ZnS core-shell QDs with high-density and uniform array. The CAPO increased the binding strength between the QDs and the substrates, and the HDT induced the strong inter-particle attractions of assembled QDs. The assembling properties of QDs thin films were characterized by SEM, AFM, optical microscope and photoluminescence spectroscope(PL).

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.328-331
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• 2011

ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by employing water-containing Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) reversed micelles (microemulsions) and the silica-encapsulated ZnSe QDs were obtained by a direct injection of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) into the microemulsion system. When the QDs were coated by silica, well-defined spherical shapes were formed and the average size of the QDs was near 7 nm. In addition, the photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of the QDs was reduced from 8.0 to 1.1% as they were encapsulated by silica. However, the solid layers of the silica-encapsulated ZnSe QDs on gold surfaces showed the excellent photostability. In particular, they are cadmium free and thus, less toxic. Moreover, the present method does not require a hot reaction temperature or extremely toxic H2Se gas as a Se precursor. Accordingly, the method can be a safer and more economical process for producing silica-encapsulated ZnSe QDs, which may be a potential media for biosensors.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.900-909
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• 2018

A $ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst decorated with PbS quantum dots (QDs) was synthesized to achieve high photocatalytic efficiency for the decomposition of dye in aqueous media. A $TiO_2$ porous layer, as a precursor photocatalyst, was fabricated using micro-arc oxidation, and exhibited irregular porous cells with anatase and rutile crystalline structures. Then, a ZnO-deposited $TiO_2$ catalyst was fabricated using a zinc acetate solution, and PbS QDs were uniformly deposited on the surface of the $ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. For the PbS $QDs/ZnO/TiO_2$ photocatalyst, ZnO and PbS nanoparticles are uniformly precipitated on the $TiO_2$ surface. However, the diameters of the PbS particles were very fine, and their shape and distribution were relatively more homogeneous compared to the ZnO particles on the $TiO_2$ surface. The PbS QDs on the $TiO_2$ surface can induce changes in band gap energy due to the quantum confinement effect. The effective band gap of the PbS QDs was calculated to be 1.43 eV. To evaluate their photocatalytic properties, Aniline blue decomposition tests were performed. The presence of ZnO and PbS nanoparticles on the $TiO_2$ catalysts enhanced photoactivity by improving the absorption of visible light. The PbS $QDs/ZnO/TiO_2$ heterojunction photocatalyst showed a higher Aniline blue decomposition rate and photocatalytic activity, due to the quantum size effect of the PbS nanoparticles, and the more efficient transport of charge carriers.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.474-480
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• 2009

We have investigated optical properties of InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown on GaAs (100) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy, by means of photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL spectroscopy. InAs QDs were grown by using In interruption growth technique, in which the In flux was periodically interrupted by a closed In shutter during InAs QDs growth. The shutter of In source was opened for 1 s and then closed for 0, 9, 19, 29, or 39 s. This growth sequence was repeated 30 times during QDs growth. For each sample, the total amount of In contributing to the growth was the same (30 s) but total growth time was varied during the InAs growth. As the In interruption time is increased from 0 to 19 s, the PL peak position of the QDs is red-shifted from 1096 to 1198 nm, and the PL intensity is increased. However, the PL peak is unchanged and the intensity is decreased as the In interruption time is increased further to 39 s. The PL decay times measured at the PL peak position for all the InAs QDs are independent on the QD growth conditions and showed about 1 ns. The red-shift of PL peak and the increase of PL intensity can be explained due to increased QD size and the enhancement in the migration of In atoms using In interruption technique. These results indicated that the size and shape of InAs QDs can be controlled by using In interruption growth technique. Thus the emission wavelength of the InAs QDs on GaAs substrate can also be controlled.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.589-594
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the enhancement effects of the quantum denoising system (QDS) on brain CT images. This retrospective study was conducted with 45 adults who visited G Radiology located in Gyungbuk for having brain CT tests between Jul 2017 and Oct 2017 after receiving consents. Subjects were divided into a control group (A group; no QDS(-) application during the brain CT test) and a treatment group (B Group; QDS(+) application during the brain CT test). The following conclusions were obtained from the study. The noise values at the Pons part and the Vermis part were significantly (p<0.05) lower in B Group ($Pons=5.41{\pm}1.05HU$; $Vermis=5.28{\pm}0.73HU$) than A Group ($Pons=6.92{\pm}0.98HU$; Vermis=6.72). The SNR values at the Pons part and the Vermis part were significantly (p<0.05) higher in B Group ($Pons=7.28{\pm}2.56$; $Vermis=8.63{\pm}3.04$) than A Group ($Pons=5.21{\pm}1.28$; $Vermis=6.23{\pm}1.49$). In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the application of QDS to the brain CT test would enhance the signal to noise ratio (SNR) and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) to provide an image more appropriate for diagnosis.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.47-49
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• 2017

Photocurrent enhancement has been investigated in monolayer (1L) $MoS_2$ with PbS quantum dots (QDs). A metal-semiconductor-metal (Au-1L $MoS_2$-Au) junction device is fabricated using a standard photolithography method. Considerably improved photo-electrical properties are obtained by coating PbS QDs on the Au-1L $MoS_2$-Au device. Time dependent photoconductivity and current-voltage characteristics are investigated. For the QDs-coated $MoS_2$ device, it is observed that the photocurrent is considerably enhanced and the decay life time becomes longer. We propose that carriers in QDs are excited and transferred to the $MoS_2$ channel under light illumination, improving the photocurrent of the 1L $MoS_2$ channel. Our experimental findings suggest that two-dimensional layered semiconductor materials combined with QDs could be used as building blocks for highly-sensitive optoelectronic detectors including radiation sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2010

Compared with organic fluorophores, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have the better properties such as photostability, narrow emission spectra coupled to tunable photoluminescent emissions and exceptional resistance to both photo bleaching and chemical degradation. In this work, CdSe/ZnS QDs nanobeads were prepared by the incorporation of CdSe/ZnS QDs with mesoporous silica to use as the optical probe for detecting toxic and bio- materials with high sensitivity, CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs were synthesized from the precursors such as CdO and zinc stearate with the lower toxicity than pyrotic precursors. The QD-nanobeads were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, FL microscopy, UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy, respectively.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2006

Here we present a sensitive DNA detection protocol using quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic beads (MBs) for large volume samples. In this study, QDs, conjugated with streptavidin, were used to produce fluorescent signals while magnetic beads (MBs) were used to isolate and concentrate the signals. The presence of target DNAs leads to the sandwich hybridization between the functionalized QDs, the target DNAs and the MBs. In fact, the QDs-MBs complex, which is bound using the target DNA, can be isolated and then concentrated. The binding of the QDs to the surface of the MBs was confirmed by confocal microscopy and Cd elemental analysis. It was found that the fluorescent intensity was proportional to concentration of the target DNA, while the presence of non-complementary DNA produced no significant fluorescent signal. In addition, the presence of low copies of target DNAs such as 0.5 pM in large volume samples up to 40mL was successfully detected by using a magnet-assisted concentration protocol which consequently results in the enhancement of the sensitivity more than 100-fold.