Ligand-engineered ZnS quantum dots synthesized from substituted thioureas: scalable production, polymer grafting, and emissive film fabrication.

ABSTRACT: Zinc sulfide (ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized using a series of substituted thioureas as single-source sulfur precursors in a high-temperature 1-octadecene medium. The hot-injection method offered excellent reproducibility and enabled straightforward scale-up to multigram quantities without compromising particle size or optical characteristics. The as-prepared ZnS QDs exhibited a high organic content (∼46 wt%), originating from in situ-generated surface ligands, which was quantitatively determined through acid digestion. This surface composition provided a versatile platform for subsequent ligand exchange. Functional ligands, including 2-mercaptopropionic acid (2-MPA), bis[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (BMEP), and 10-(phosphonooxy)decyl methacrylate (PODM), were successfully

SUBMITTER: Jemelka J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12862920 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature