Dorothy A. Silbaugh, Lidia Ferrer-Tasies, Jordi Faraudo, Jaume Veciana, Nora Ventosa and Brian A. Korgel

Fluorescent silicon (Si) nanocrystals (2.8 nm diameter) were incorporated into surfactant assemblies of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cholesterol, called quatsomes. In water, the quatsome-Si nanocrystal assemblies remain fluorescent and well-dispersed for weeks. In contrast to Si nanocrystals, alkanethiol-capped gold (Au) nanocrystals do not form stable dispersions in water with quatsomes. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) confirmed that the Si nanocrystal-quatsome structures do not change over the course of several weeks. The long-term stability of the Si nanocrystal-quatsome assemblies, their fluorescence, and biocompatibility makes them attractive candidates for medical applications.

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03539
Langmuir 2017, 33, 14366−14377

Read full article here: Highly Fluorescent Silicon Nanocrystals Stabilized in Water Using Quatsomes