Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Spring 2009

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Chemistry

Committee Chair

Dr. Dion Rivera, Department of Chemistry

Second Committee Member

Dr. Anthony Diaz, Department of Chemistry

Third Committee Member

Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program

Abstract

Blue to green fluorescence is exhibited by zinc-based quantum dot (QD) materials capped with sodium polyphosphate and L-cysteine. The factors governing this final fluorescence and intensity were explored using kinetic studies. Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy were used to monitor relative size of QDs and fluorescence intensity as a function of time. Fluorescence data shows gradual formation of an emission peak at 520 nm, and shows shifting of this emission peak to 480 nm over a 24 hr time period. Fluorescence results suggest that zinc oxide is forming on the surface of the ZnS nanocrystals and during early heating stages may be acting as a dopant withing the zinc-based nanoparticles. As the nanocrystalline material is heated over a 24 hr period spectroscopic data suggests that a shell of ZnO is forming around the ZnS nanocrystal.

Comments

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