Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Based and Transition

Synthesis and Characterization of Carbon Based and Transition Metal Quantum Dots Ben Mc. Namee and Ryan Varney Belfry High School

What are Quantum Dots ? Quantum dots (QDs) are man-made nanoscale crystals that can transport electrons. When UV light hits them, they can emit light of various colors based on their sizes. . These artificial semiconductor nanoparticles that have found applications in composites, solar cells and fluorescent biological labels.

Motivation Our motivation for this quantum dots project is the possibility of its application in cancer diagnosis. Quantum dots have excellent optical properties, such as high brightness threshold, resistance to photo-bleaching and tunable emission spectra. Quantum dots have been used in the past for lymph node mapping and tumor targeting but we believe that they could play a much greater roll cancer mapping.

Materials In order to synthesize carbon-quantum dots we’ve been using… - 300 m. L flask Pipet Sugar Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) Sodium Hydroxide Distilled Water Black Light Triple Beam balance

Materials

Procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Two 500 m. M of sugar/water solution are created 500 m. M of both Na. OH/water and Na. HCO 3/water solutions are created Mix each sugar/water solution with the Na. OH and Na. HCO 3 solutions. Let solutions sit for 48 hours Observe solutions under black light for color Place samples of each solution in UV spectrometer for reading

Successful studies

Data

Data

Future Methods 1. Carbon Quantum Dots- by using a purer carbon base, more defined dots can be produced with more intensity. 2. Metal Quantum Dots- by using transition metals such as cadmium selenide, powerful quantum dots can be made because they possess good thermal conductivity.

Acknowledgements We’d like to thank KVEC for this great opportunity and the BHS administration for making this project possible!