Ligands on Nanocrystal Surfaces, the 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Fingerprint

Conspectus Surfaces are an integral part of colloidal nanocrystals (NCs). Hence, understanding the binding and packing to NC surfaces of organic ligands, which are often used to stabilize NC colloids, is an essential aspect of the formation of NCs with desired chemical or physical properties. Since NCs lack a unique structure, not a single analytical technique can provide a complete description of the chemistry of NC surfaces. Even so, solution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy stands out as a unique method to study the organic ligand shell for its capability to distinguish between surface bound species and surface inactive residues from NC synthesis and purification. In this account, we first set the stage by highlighting the fingerprints of ligands bound to NCs in solution 1H NMR, which are broadened and shifted resonances, slow diffusion, and pronounced transfer of spin polarization between nearby protons. These characteristics enable bound ligands to be identified and quantified by 1D 1H NMR spectroscopy, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY). Even so, we argue in a second part that much more insight in surface chemistry can be obtained from the in situ monitoring of ligand exchange processes. The chemical analysis of released compounds and the thermodynamic study of exchange equilibria provide a surprisingly detailed picture of the chemistry of the NC-ligand bond, the heterogeneity of binding sites, and the bunching of ligands on the NC surface. Multiple case studies are discussed to illustrate these different aspects of NC surface chemistry, where work on CdSe NCs in particular indicates that binding sites at facet edges are most vulnerable for ligand loss. While such weak binding sites are a liability for optoelectronic applications, they could offer an opportunity for catalysis. Moreover, the general character of the methodology introduced calls for realizing a broad, quantitative survey of NC-ligand interactions, well beyond the extensively studied case of CdSe NCs. In a third part, we address in more detail the line broadening that characterizes ligands bound to NCs, which results from a combination of reduced mobility and a diversity of chemical environments. Hence, chemical shift and line shape, or rates of transversal relaxation and interligand cross-relaxation, can all convey information on the ligand environment, especially when solvents are used that are chemically distinct from t