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Embedding Perovskite Nanocrystals into a Polymer Matrix for Tunable Luminescence Probes in Cell Imaging
Author(s) -
Zhang Haihua,
Wang Xu,
Liao Qing,
Xu Zhenzhen,
Li Haiyang,
Zheng Lemin,
Fu Hongbing
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201604382
Subject(s) - luminescence , materials science , nanocrystal , polymer , polystyrene , nanotechnology , photoluminescence , perovskite (structure) , quantum dot , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , composite material , engineering
Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with bright luminescence and broad spectral tunability are good candidates as smart probes for bioimaging, but suffer from hydrolysis even when exposed to atmosphere moisture. In this paper, a strategy is demonstrated by embedding CsPbX 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) NCs into microhemispheres (MHSs) of polystyrene matrix to prepare “water‐resistant” NCs@MHSs hybrids as multicolor multiplexed optical coding agents. First, a facile room‐temperature solution self‐assembly approach to highly luminescent colloidal CsPbX 3 NCs is developed by injecting a stock solution of CsX⋅PbX 2 in N , N ‐dimethylformamide into dichloromethane. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is chosen as the capping ligand, which is physically adsorbed and wrapped on the surface of perovskite NCs to form a protective layer. The PVP protective layer not only leads to composition‐tunable CsPbX 3 NCs with high quantum yields and narrow emission linewidths of 12–34 nm but also acts as an interfacial layer, making perovskite NCs compatible with polystyrene polymers and facilitating the next step to embed CsPbX 3 NCs into polymer MHSs. CsPbX 3 NCs@MHSs are demonstrated as multicolor luminescence probes in live cells with high stability and nontoxicity. Using ten intensity levels and seven‐color NCs@MHSs that show non‐overlapping spectra, it will be possible to individually tag about ten million cells.