Microwave synthesis of hybrid organo-inorganic nanosystems based on CdS quantum dots and photoactive styrylquinoline ligand

Abstract

Hybrid nanosystems (conjugates)—CdS quantum dots with an average diameter of 2.4 nm containing two types of ligands in the organic shell: coordinating (covering) benzyl mercaptan ligand and photoisomerizable styrylquinoline (SQ) ligand, viz., 2-(4-[9-mercaptononoxy]styryl)quinolone—were synthesized in one step by microwave irradiation. The average number of SQ molecules in the hybrid nanosystem shell was found to depend nonlinearly on the relative concentration of this ligand in the starting reaction mixture, the disproportion and cooperative effects being observed upon synthesis. It was shown that, owing to the photoactivity of SQ ligand, the resulting hybrid nanosystems can act as photon switches.