Surface-treated biocompatible ZnS quantum dots: Synthesis, photo-physical and microstructural properties

In the present study, the ZnS semiconductor quantum dots were successfully synthesized via an aqueous method utilizing glutathione (GSH), thioglycolic acid (TGA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as capping agents. The structural, morphological and photo-physical properties and biocompatibility were investigated using comprehensive characterization techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), UV-Vis optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer and MTT assay. The XRD patterns showed a cubic zinc blende crystal structure and a crystallite size of about 2–3 nm using Scherrer’s equation confirmed by the electron micrographs and Effective Mass Approximation (EMA). The DLS and zeta-potential results revealed that GSH capped ZnS nanoparticles have the narrowest size distribution with an average size of 27 nm and relatively good colloidal stability. Also, the FT-IR spectrum confirmed the interaction of the capping agent groups with ZnS nanoparticles. According to the UV-Vis absorption results, optical bandgap of the spherical capped nanoparticles is higher compared to the uncapped sample and could be wider than 3.67 eV (corresponding to the bulk ZnS), which is due to the quantum confinement effect. From photoluminescence spectra, it was found that the emission becomes more intensive and shifts towards the shorter wavelengths in the presence of the capping agent. Moreover, the emission mechanism of uncapped and capped ZnS was discussed in detail. Finally, the MTT results revealed the satisfactory (>94%) biocompatibility of GSH capped ZnS quantum dots which would be a promising candidate applicable in fluorescent biological labels.