Copper-doped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots: Controllable photoactivated copper(I) cation storage and release vectors for catalysis

The first photoactivated doped quantum dot vector for metal-ion release has been developed. A facile method for doping copper(I) cations within ZnS quantum dot shells was achieved through the use of metal-dithiocarbamates, with Cu + ions elucidated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoexcitation of the quantum dots has been shown to release Cu+ ions, which was employed as an effective catalyst for the Huisgen [3+2] cycloaddition reaction. The relationship between the extent of doping, catalytic activity, and the fluorescence quenching was also explored. Copper catalysis: Core-shell nanoparticles made of CdSeZnS quantum dots (QDs) with a copper-doped shell have been prepared. Doping copper ions in the ZnS QD shell provides an alternate decay pathway for photoexcited CdSe affording a vector for the release of metal ions for catalysis.