Sulfur Quantum Dots Synthesis and Applications
Summary
Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs) are an emerging class of metal-free fluorescent nanomaterial, distinguished by their ultrasmall size, tunable photoluminescence and low toxicity. Syntheses can be grouped into top-down approaches, which cleave bulk sulfur via chemical oxidation or ultrasonic fragmentation, and bottom-up strategies, which assemble elemental sulphur atoms from precursors under controlled temperature and pH. Surface passivation agents such as polyethylene glycol or small organic ligands are critical to stabilise the dot surface, control oxidation state and enhance quantum yield. Typical photophysical characteristics include excitation-dependent emission and lifetimes in the nanosecond range. The unique optical behaviour and biocompatibility of SQDs have underpinned applications in fluorescence sensing of antibiotics and heavy metals, bioimaging of cells and tissues, anti-microbial coatings, light-emitting devices and catalytic systems. Advances in rapid synthetic protocols and improved quantum yields have extended their practical use, while ongoing efforts seek to address challenges in large-scale production, long-term stability and fine control of emission wavelength. The global significance of SQDs lies in their potential to replace heavy-metal quantum dots in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and optoelectronics, offering a sustainable route to multifunctional nanomaterials.
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Sulfur Quantum Dots Synthesis and Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sulfur quantum dots synthesis and applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Quantum yield: The ratio of emitted to absorbed photons, reflecting fluorescence efficiency.
Top-down synthesis: A method that fragments bulk material into nanoscale particles via physical or chemical means.
Bottom-up synthesis: An approach that constructs nanoparticles atom by atom or molecule by molecule from precursors.
Surface passivation: The attachment of stabilising agents to a nanoparticle surface to prevent oxidation and control photophysical properties.
Inner filter effect: Attenuation of fluorescence due to absorption of excitation or emission light by intervening species in solution.
References
- Sensitive and selective determination of tetracycline in milk based on sulfur quantum dot probes. RSC Advances (2021).
- Sulfur quantum dot-based “ON–OFF–ON” fluorescence platform for detection and bioimaging of Cr( vi ) and ascorbic acid in complex environmental matrices and biological tissues. RSC Advances (2021).
- Polyethylene Glycol-Mediated Switchable Blue-Green Emissions in Sulfur Nanostructures Controlled through the Surface Chemistry. Chemistry of Materials (2022).
- Probe sonication-assisted rapid synthesis of highly fluorescent sulfur quantum dots. Nanotechnology (2023).
- Research Update of Emergent Sulfur Quantum Dots in Synthesis and Sensing/Bioimaging Applications. Molecules (2022).
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