Application of aqueous phase CdSe quantum dots for formaldehyde sensing

Abstract

Thioglycolic acid capped cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots have been synthesised in aqueous phase and their optical properties have been studied using UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Quantum dots have been characterised using TEM and XRD. The potential application of CdSe quantum dots are further studied using formaldehyde as a model compound. The sensing is based on fluorescence quenching of quantum dots in the presence of formaldehyde, and this work showed linearity in the range from 0.15 to 1.05 ppm, with a detection limit of 0.06 ppm.