Fluorinated Boron Nitride Quantum Dots: A New 0D Material for Energy Conversion and Detection of Cellular Metabolism
Abstract
Quantum dots encompass a broad spectrum of optical, catalytic, and electrochemical properties bringing in novel applications in catalysis, imaging, displays, and optoelectronics. Herein, the unanticipated broad‐spectrum light absorption and high fluorescence quantum yield in fluorinated boron nitride (FBN) quantum dots are discussed. A heterostructure of FBN quantum dots with a wide‐bandgap semiconductor, titania nanotube arrays, exhibits high photocatalytic activity as evidenced by high external quantum efficiency extending from ultraviolet to green region of the solar spectrum (≈24% at 400 nm). The high activity is confirmed using photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution experiments. Further, it is demonstrated that high fluorescence quantum yield could be tapped for the detection of glycolytic activity in cancer cells compared to normal cells. This finding could shift the paradigm of molecular detection using quantum dots. The 0D structure and the gap states introduced through fluorination are believed to be responsible for these unprecedented characteristics of boron nitride.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 18, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/ppsc.201800346
Entities
People
- Angel A Martí
- Benny Abraham Kaipparettu
- Carlos A. de los Reyes
- Chandra Sekhar Tiwary
- Jun Hyoung Park
- Maggie Paulose
- Oomman K. Varghese
- Parambath M. Sudeep
- Pulickel Ajayan
- Ram Neupane
- Sruthi Radhakrishnan
- Valery N Khabashesku
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Baker Hughes
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine
- National Cancer Institute
- National Science Foundation
- Rice University
- University of Houston
- University of Toronto