Luminescent detection of Cu(II) ions in aqueous solution using CdSe and CdSe-ZnS quantum dots functionalised with mercaptosuccinic acid

CdSe (core) and CdSe-ZnS (core-shell) Quantum Dots (QD's) surface functionalised with mercaptosuccinic acid ligands were prepared. The conjugates were screened against a variety of common metal ions in aqueous solution and selectivity was established for Cu(II) ions based on an On-Off change in fluorescence intensity. The presence of the ZnS shell was found to have a significant effect on both the sensitivity and the range of Cu2+ induced quenching. (C) 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim