Oligomeric and polymeric surfactants for the transfer of luminescent ZnO nanocrystals to water

Anass Dazzazi (1, 2) , Yannick Coppel (1) , Martin In (3) , Christophe Chassenieux (4) , Patrice Mascalchi (5) , Laurence Salomé (5) , Ahmed Bouahouss (6) , Myrtil L. Kahn (1) , Fabienne Gauffre (7)

1 LCC - Laboratoire de chimie de coordination
2 IMRCP - Interactions moléculaires et réactivité chimique et photochimique
3 Matière Molle
4 IMMM - Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans
5 IPBS - Institut de pharmacologie et de biologie structurale
6 UM5 - Université Mohammed V de Rabat [Agdal]
7 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes

The water dispersion of luminescent nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized in organic solvent by encapsulation in a surfactant bilayer is a promising strategy for preserving the optical properties of NCs. The phase transfer of highly monodispersed ZnO NCs using the monomer, dimer, trimer and polymer of a series of alkyl ammonium surfactants is compared. Transfer yields over 60% could be obtained with the oligomers and the polymer. In contrast, we observed no measurable transfer using the single chain surfactant. NMR spectroscopy, including DOSY and NOESY, demonstrated that increasing the oligomerization number ameliorates the stability within the coating bilayer. The NCs exhibit a strong luminescence in water and show long term chemical and photo-chemical stability.

Domaines: Matériaux

Anass Dazzazi, Yannick Coppel, Martin In, Christophe Chassenieux, Patrice Mascalchi, et al.. Oligomeric and polymeric surfactants for the transfer of luminescent ZnO nanocrystals to water. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2013, 1 (11), pp.2158. ⟨10.1039/c3tc00877k⟩. ⟨hal-00805712⟩