Hydrogen Peroxide Assisted Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Sulfur Quantum Dots

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Henggang Wang
  • Stephen V. Kershaw
  • Tianzi Li
  • Yue Wang
  • Yongqing Zhai

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7040-7044
Journal / PublicationAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume58
Issue number21
Online published28 Mar 2019
Publication statusPublished - 20 May 2019

Abstract

An H2O2-assisted top-down approach is used to synthesize brightly luminescent, color-tunable sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), with a photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 23 %. The formation of SQDs involves dissolution of bulk sulfur powder into small particles in an alkaline environment in the presence of polyethylene glycol, followed by H2O2-assisted etching of polysulfide species, which has the advantage of the passivation of surface states. This synthetic strategy allows us to simultaneously control the final size of SQDs, to tune their emission color, and to improve their emission quantum yield by eliminating surface traps. Down-conversion white light emitting diodes were also fabricated using blue emissive SQDs and orange emissive copper nanoclusters, with CIE color coordinates of (0.33, 0.32) and a high color rendering index of 91. The water-soluble, highly luminescent SQDs are promising luminescent materials that can be produced from abundant precursor materials.

Research Area(s)

  • elemental sulfur, LEDs, photoluminescence, quantum dots, surface etching

Citation Format(s)

Hydrogen Peroxide Assisted Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Sulfur Quantum Dots. / Wang, Henggang; Wang, Zhenguang; Xiong, Yuan et al.

In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, Vol. 58, No. 21, 20.05.2019, p. 7040-7044.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review