Photoluminescence of CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots stabilized in water with a pseudopeptidic gemini surfactant.

The use of pseudopeptidic gemini surfactants as stabilizers of hydrophobic quantum dots in water is discussed. Compound 1a acts as an intercalator with hydrophobic ligands of QDs transferring them from toluene to pure water yielding a fluorescent nanoparticle resistant to quenching by chloride anion (up to 0.1 M).