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Photophysics of (CdSe)ZnS colloidal quantum dots in an aqueous environment stabilized with amino acids and genetically-modified proteins

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Abstract

Using a combination of two amino acids, histidine and N-acetyl-cysteine, to replace the original organic capping groups of (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots, water-soluble and highly luminescent (CdSe)ZnS quantum dots have been successfully prepared at pH 8. Characterization by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and transient absorption spectroscopy, demonstrate that the electronic properties of these quantum dots exceed those of the original as-synthesized samples dissolved in a more-conventional organic solvent. Furthermore, these amino acid-stabilized quantum dots have been assembled onto a cellulose substrate via cellulose binding proteins that specifically bind to cellulose and was genetically engineered to harbor dual hexahistidine tags at the N- and C-termini to confer binding with the zinc(ii) on the quantum dot surface. The spectroscopic measurements show that the protein-bound quantum dots continue to retain their desirable electronic properties when bound on the substrate. Meanwhile, the specific and very selective binding properties of the proteins have remained effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd, Golden, 80401-3393, CO, USA

    Xin Ai, Qi Xu, Marcus Jones, Qing Song, Shi-you Ding, Randy J. Ellingson, Mike Himmel & Garry Rumbles

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  1. Xin Ai
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  2. Qi Xu
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  3. Marcus Jones
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  4. Qing Song
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  6. Randy J. Ellingson
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Correspondence to Garry Rumbles.

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This paper was published as part of the special issue in honour of David Phillips.

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Ai, X., Xu, Q., Jones, M. et al. Photophysics of (CdSe)ZnS colloidal quantum dots in an aqueous environment stabilized with amino acids and genetically-modified proteins. Photochem Photobiol Sci 6, 1027–1033 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1039/b706471c

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