Interaction between nitroxyl radicals and CdTe quantum dots: Determination of fluorescence-quenching mechanisms in aqueous solution

Abstract The present work characterizes the optical properties of CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs) after interaction with nitroxyl radicals based on steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy studies. QDs of different sizes were exposed to 2 different nitroxyl radicals, i.e., TEMPO and 4-amino-TEMPO radicals. A clear dependence of dynamic and static Stern-Volmer constants values, KD and KS, respectively, was observed as a function of the size of QDs used, with a change from a mostly static mechanism (for smaller QD sizes) to a dynamic mechanism predominating as the nanoparticles increase in size. All observed effects are dependent on both the concentration of the radical and the s…