Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been drawing great attention recently as a material for solar energy conversion due to their versatile optical and electrical properties. The QD-sensitized solar cell (QDSC) is one of the burgeoning semiconductor QD solar cells that shows promising developments for the next generation of solar cells. This article focuses on recent developments in QDSCs, including 1) the effect of quantum confinement on QDSCs, 2) the multiple exciton generation (MEG) of QDs, 3) fabrication methods of QDs, and 4) nanocrystalline photoelectrodes for solar cells. We also make suggestions for future research on QDSCs. Although the efficiency of QDSCs is still low, we think there will be major breakthroughs in developing QDSCs in the future.
{"title":"Semiconductor quantum dot-sensitized solar cells.","authors":"Jianjun Tian, Guozhong Cao","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.22578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been drawing great attention recently as a material for solar energy conversion due to their versatile optical and electrical properties. The QD-sensitized solar cell (QDSC) is one of the burgeoning semiconductor QD solar cells that shows promising developments for the next generation of solar cells. This article focuses on recent developments in QDSCs, including 1) the effect of quantum confinement on QDSCs, 2) the multiple exciton generation (MEG) of QDs, 3) fabrication methods of QDs, and 4) nanocrystalline photoelectrodes for solar cells. We also make suggestions for future research on QDSCs. Although the efficiency of QDSCs is still low, we think there will be major breakthroughs in developing QDSCs in the future. </p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22578","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31833988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-09-03eCollection Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428
W Russ Algar, Igor L Medintz
Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and their bioconjugates are of great interest for bioanalysis and bioimaging. These brightly luminescent nanoparticles can be utilised as probes to light-up biological structures and report on biochemical processes, potentially providing new insight into fundamental biology or enabling better diagnostic methods. Some of the advantages of QDs in these applications include their spectrally narrow, size-tunable emission; broad, strong light absorption; resistance to photobleaching; and facile multicolour imaging and analysis. Over the last decade, a multitude of QD bioprobes based on Fo¨ rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) have been developed, where FRET is used to turn QD luminescence ‘on’ or ‘off ’ in response to binding of biological targets or other bioprocesses of interest. (Published: 3 September 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 22428 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428
{"title":"Concentric energy transfer with quantum dots for multiplexed biosensing.","authors":"W Russ Algar, Igor L Medintz","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428","url":null,"abstract":"Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) and their bioconjugates are of great interest for bioanalysis and bioimaging. These brightly luminescent nanoparticles can be utilised as probes to light-up biological structures and report on biochemical processes, potentially providing new insight into fundamental biology or enabling better diagnostic methods. Some of the advantages of QDs in these applications include their spectrally narrow, size-tunable emission; broad, strong light absorption; resistance to photobleaching; and facile multicolour imaging and analysis. Over the last decade, a multitude of QD bioprobes based on Fo¨ rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) have been developed, where FRET is used to turn QD luminescence ‘on’ or ‘off ’ in response to binding of biological targets or other bioprocesses of interest. (Published: 3 September 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 22428 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22428","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31719352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-08-13eCollection Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429
F J Rawson, C L Yeung, S K Jackson, P M Mendes
Technology for understanding the real-time molecular events occurring within cells that underpins their behaviour is currently lacking. Despite important developments, the biochemical processes in a cell can be only poorly quantified, limiting the ability to resolve the dynamic molecular processes that underlie important cellfate decisions, such as differentiation, cell division and cell death. (Published: 13 August 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 22429 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429
{"title":"Intracellular 'wiring' for real-time cell communication.","authors":"F J Rawson, C L Yeung, S K Jackson, P M Mendes","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429","url":null,"abstract":"Technology for understanding the real-time molecular events occurring within cells that underpins their behaviour is currently lacking. Despite important developments, the biochemical processes in a cell can be only poorly quantified, limiting the ability to resolve the dynamic molecular processes that underlie important cellfate decisions, such as differentiation, cell division and cell death. (Published: 13 August 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 22429 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.22429","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31667152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-07-10Print Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.21055
Sou Ryuzaki, Jun Onoe
Hetero-junction organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells consisting of donor (D) and acceptor (A) layers have been regarded as next-generation PV cells, because of their fascinating advantages, such as lightweight, low fabrication cost, resource free, and flexibility, when compared to those of conventional PV cells based on silicon and semiconductor compounds. However, the power conversion efficiency (η) of the OPV cells has been still around 8%, though more than 10% efficiency has been required for their practical use. To fully optimize these OPV cells, it is necessary that the low mobility of carriers/excitons in the OPV cells and the open circuit voltage (V OC), of which origin has not been understood well, should be improved. In this review, we address an improvement of the mobility of carriers/excitons by controlling the crystal structure of a donor layer and address how to increase the V OC for zinc octaethylporphyrin [Zn(OEP)]/C60 hetero-junction OPV cells [ITO/Zn(OEP)/C60/Al]. It was found that crystallization of Zn(OEP) films increases the number of inter-molecular charge transfer (IMCT) excitons and enlarges the mobility of carriers and IMCT excitons, thus significantly improving the external quantum efficiency (EQE) under illumination of the photoabsorption band due to the IMCT excitons. Conversely, charge accumulation of photo-generated carriers in the vicinity of the donor/acceptor (D/A) interface was found to play a key role in determining the V OC for the OPV cells.
{"title":"Basic aspects for improving the energy conversion efficiency of hetero-junction organic photovoltaic cells.","authors":"Sou Ryuzaki, Jun Onoe","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.21055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hetero-junction organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells consisting of donor (D) and acceptor (A) layers have been regarded as next-generation PV cells, because of their fascinating advantages, such as lightweight, low fabrication cost, resource free, and flexibility, when compared to those of conventional PV cells based on silicon and semiconductor compounds. However, the power conversion efficiency (η) of the OPV cells has been still around 8%, though more than 10% efficiency has been required for their practical use. To fully optimize these OPV cells, it is necessary that the low mobility of carriers/excitons in the OPV cells and the open circuit voltage (V OC), of which origin has not been understood well, should be improved. In this review, we address an improvement of the mobility of carriers/excitons by controlling the crystal structure of a donor layer and address how to increase the V OC for zinc octaethylporphyrin [Zn(OEP)]/C60 hetero-junction OPV cells [ITO/Zn(OEP)/C60/Al]. It was found that crystallization of Zn(OEP) films increases the number of inter-molecular charge transfer (IMCT) excitons and enlarges the mobility of carriers and IMCT excitons, thus significantly improving the external quantum efficiency (EQE) under illumination of the photoabsorption band due to the IMCT excitons. Conversely, charge accumulation of photo-generated carriers in the vicinity of the donor/acceptor (D/A) interface was found to play a key role in determining the V OC for the OPV cells. </p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21055","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31222473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano Reviews - now in its 4th volume - is a unique Open Access international journal which publishes articles in the fields of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and single-molecule research, and has successfully published cutting-edge research results and reviews in these areas over the past three years (vols. 1-3). The importance of nanoscience and nanotechnology for future technology and health care is now well recognized, which is apparent from the ever-accelerating growth of interfaces among the aforementioned areas, applied research, and innovative technologies. (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21593 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593
{"title":"Nano reviews in its 4th volume.","authors":"V. Biju","doi":"10.3402/NR.V4I0.21593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/NR.V4I0.21593","url":null,"abstract":"Nano Reviews - now in its 4th volume - is a unique Open Access international journal which publishes articles in the fields of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and single-molecule research, and has successfully published cutting-edge research results and reviews in these areas over the past three years (vols. 1-3). The importance of nanoscience and nanotechnology for future technology and health care is now well recognized, which is apparent from the ever-accelerating growth of interfaces among the aforementioned areas, applied research, and innovative technologies. (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21593 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 1","pages":"475-484"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69866146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-06-11Print Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080
J J Tian, Q F Zhang, L L Zhang, R Gao, L F Shen, S G Zhang, X H Qu, G Z Cao
Narrow-band-gap semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are considered as next-generation sensitizers for solar cells because of their extraordinary optical and electrical properties in terms of tuneable band gap, high molar extinction coefficient, and large intrinsic dipole moment, which may facilitate charge separation in solar cells. Moreover, theoretical photovoltaic conversion efficiency of QDs-sensitized solar cells can reach up to 44% in view of multiple exciton generation (MEG). (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21080 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080
{"title":"Energy materials: core/shell structural photoelectrodes assembled with quantum dots for solar cells.","authors":"J J Tian, Q F Zhang, L L Zhang, R Gao, L F Shen, S G Zhang, X H Qu, G Z Cao","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080","url":null,"abstract":"Narrow-band-gap semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are considered as next-generation sensitizers for solar cells because of their extraordinary optical and electrical properties in terms of tuneable band gap, high molar extinction coefficient, and large intrinsic dipole moment, which may facilitate charge separation in solar cells. Moreover, theoretical photovoltaic conversion efficiency of QDs-sensitized solar cells can reach up to 44% in view of multiple exciton generation (MEG). (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21080 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21080","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31598659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-06-11Print Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079
E S Shibu, A Sonoda, Z Tao, Q Feng, A Furube, S Masuo, L Wang, N Tamai, M Ishikawa, V Biju
Renewable resource of carbon-free energy is crucial in the current scenario of global warming and our growing energy needs. Besides, the significance of safer energy resources has been underscored by many nuclear mishaps, including the recently crippled Fukushima Nuclear power plant in Japan. Sunlight is the most promising alternative to nuclear fuels and greenhouse-gas-emitting fossil and alcohol fuels. (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21079 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079
{"title":"Energy materials: supramolecular nanoparticles for solar energy harvesting.","authors":"E S Shibu, A Sonoda, Z Tao, Q Feng, A Furube, S Masuo, L Wang, N Tamai, M Ishikawa, V Biju","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079","url":null,"abstract":"Renewable resource of carbon-free energy is crucial in the current scenario of global warming and our growing energy needs. Besides, the significance of safer energy resources has been underscored by many nuclear mishaps, including the recently crippled Fukushima Nuclear power plant in Japan. Sunlight is the most promising alternative to nuclear fuels and greenhouse-gas-emitting fossil and alcohol fuels. (Published: 11 June 2013) Citation: Nano Reviews 2013, 4 : 21079 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21079","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31598661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2013-06-11Print Date: 2013-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593
Vasudevanpillai Biju
N ano Reviews Á now in its 4th volume Á is a unique Open Access international journal which publishes articles in the fields of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and single-molecule research, and has successfully published cutting-edge research results and reviews in these areas over the past three years (vols. 1Á3). The importance of na-noscience and nanotechnology for future technology and health care is now well recognized, which is apparent from the ever-accelerating growth of interfaces among the aforementioned areas, applied research, and innovative technologies. Additional evidence that highlights the importance of basic research in these fields is the improved funding situation (despite the current economic climate), growth in research publications, human resources being dedicated to this area, and a terrific infrastructure. Recent developments along the interfaces between nanoscience, nanotechnology, and biology not only transcend the limits of traditional chemistry, physics, and biology but also demand all-inclusive information for education, research, and application. To meet this demand and to ensure that we are filling the growing need for an exchange of comprehensive information, our editorial team is striving to publish well-organized review articles in addition to original findings. In other words, the purpose of Nano Reviews is to organize and disseminate cutting-edge and high-quality research results in the above areas in a comprehensive fashion. In Nano Reviews, we gather new experimental and theoretical developments in nanoscience, nanotechnology, nano-biotechnology, and single-molecule research aspects in materials science, bioinformatics, bioconjugate chemistry, biophysics, biological chemistry, biotechnology, and medical and engineering sciences and offer readers worldwide Open Access to these publications. In this way, we offer high-quality reference materials for research and development , which will contribute to an investigation into the entire spectrum of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nano-biotechnology, and single-molecule research. permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
{"title":"Nano reviews in its 4th volume.","authors":"Vasudevanpillai Biju","doi":"10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593","url":null,"abstract":"N ano Reviews Á now in its 4th volume Á is a unique Open Access international journal which publishes articles in the fields of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, and single-molecule research, and has successfully published cutting-edge research results and reviews in these areas over the past three years (vols. 1Á3). The importance of na-noscience and nanotechnology for future technology and health care is now well recognized, which is apparent from the ever-accelerating growth of interfaces among the aforementioned areas, applied research, and innovative technologies. Additional evidence that highlights the importance of basic research in these fields is the improved funding situation (despite the current economic climate), growth in research publications, human resources being dedicated to this area, and a terrific infrastructure. Recent developments along the interfaces between nanoscience, nanotechnology, and biology not only transcend the limits of traditional chemistry, physics, and biology but also demand all-inclusive information for education, research, and application. To meet this demand and to ensure that we are filling the growing need for an exchange of comprehensive information, our editorial team is striving to publish well-organized review articles in addition to original findings. In other words, the purpose of Nano Reviews is to organize and disseminate cutting-edge and high-quality research results in the above areas in a comprehensive fashion. In Nano Reviews, we gather new experimental and theoretical developments in nanoscience, nanotechnology, nano-biotechnology, and single-molecule research aspects in materials science, bioinformatics, bioconjugate chemistry, biophysics, biological chemistry, biotechnology, and medical and engineering sciences and offer readers worldwide Open Access to these publications. In this way, we offer high-quality reference materials for research and development , which will contribute to an investigation into the entire spectrum of nanoscience, nanotechnology, nano-biotechnology, and single-molecule research. permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"4 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v4i0.21593","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"31598660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) has long been known to catalyze unique acid induced reactions, redox reductions and photo-catalytic reactions, etc. Recently, there have been significant advancements in tailoring the oxide materials with controlled structures and morphologies using nano-chemical synthesis by the help of surfactant or stabilizer for optimal catalytic performance. In this short review, we will particularly highlight these synthetic methods for preparation of Nb 2 O 5 nanostructures, their potential applications in catalysis and their structure-activity relationships. Keywords: niobium oxide; nanostructures; semi-conductor; crystal; facet; synthesis; catalysis (Published: 7 August 2012) Citation: Nano Reviews 2012, 3 : 17631 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v3i0.17631
{"title":"Nanostructured Nb 2 O 5 catalysts","authors":"E. Tsang, Xiwen Zhou, L. Ye, S. Tsang","doi":"10.3402/NR.V3I0.17631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/NR.V3I0.17631","url":null,"abstract":"Niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5 ) has long been known to catalyze unique acid induced reactions, redox reductions and photo-catalytic reactions, etc. Recently, there have been significant advancements in tailoring the oxide materials with controlled structures and morphologies using nano-chemical synthesis by the help of surfactant or stabilizer for optimal catalytic performance. In this short review, we will particularly highlight these synthetic methods for preparation of Nb 2 O 5 nanostructures, their potential applications in catalysis and their structure-activity relationships. Keywords: niobium oxide; nanostructures; semi-conductor; crystal; facet; synthesis; catalysis (Published: 7 August 2012) Citation: Nano Reviews 2012, 3 : 17631 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/nano.v3i0.17631","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"3 1","pages":"422"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69866057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Noble metal quantum clusters (NMQCs) are the missing link between isolated noble metal atoms and nanoparticles. NMQCs are sub-nanometer core sized clusters composed of a group of atoms, most often luminescent in the visible region, and possess intriguing photo-physical and chemical properties. A trend is observed in the use of ligands, ranging from phosphines to functional proteins, for the synthesis of NMQCs in the liquid phase. In this review, we briefly overview recent advancements in the synthesis of protein protected NMQCs with special emphasis on their structural and photo-physical properties. In view of the protein protection, coupled with direct synthesis and easy functionalization, this hybrid QC-protein system is expected to have numerous optical and bioimaging applications in the future, pointers in this direction are visible in the literature.
{"title":"Protein-protected luminescent noble metal quantum clusters: an emerging trend in atomic cluster nanoscience.","authors":"Paulrajpillai Lourdu Xavier, Kamalesh Chaudhari, Ananya Baksi, Thalappil Pradeep","doi":"10.3402/nano.v3i0.14767","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v3i0.14767","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Noble metal quantum clusters (NMQCs) are the missing link between isolated noble metal atoms and nanoparticles. NMQCs are sub-nanometer core sized clusters composed of a group of atoms, most often luminescent in the visible region, and possess intriguing photo-physical and chemical properties. A trend is observed in the use of ligands, ranging from phosphines to functional proteins, for the synthesis of NMQCs in the liquid phase. In this review, we briefly overview recent advancements in the synthesis of protein protected NMQCs with special emphasis on their structural and photo-physical properties. In view of the protein protection, coupled with direct synthesis and easy functionalization, this hybrid QC-protein system is expected to have numerous optical and bioimaging applications in the future, pointers in this direction are visible in the literature.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v3i0.14767","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39968359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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