Fabrication of surface‐modified CdSe quantum dots by self‐assembly of a functionalizable comb polymer

A facile approach is proposed for the fabrication of surface‐modified CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with compatibility with various media and better dispersibility by self‐assembly of a functionalizable comb polymer. The comb polymer was prepared from the reaction between the acyl chloride groups in poly(acryloyl chloride) and the hydroxyl groups in 1‐octadecanol. With the combination of the compatibility and entanglement of the aliphatic chain in 1‐octadecanol and similar aliphatic chain in oleic acid ligand of QDs, the comb polymer could cap on the QDs and thus endow them with functional groups. The structure of such a polymer was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. According to the reactivity of remaining acyl chloride groups in the comb polymer, the polymer ligands could be tailored to be various structures, and then lipophilic, hydrophilic and functional QDs were obtained. The fluorescence properties of the surface‐modified QDs were investigated, and the morphologies and dispersions of different kinds of surface‐modified QDs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Finally, homogeneous and stable dispersions of QDs in various media could be realized by adjusting the structure of the comb polymer. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry