Discipline: Nanoscience
Subcategory: Pollution/Toxic Substances/Waste
Session: 1
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Genesis Suriel - University of Puerto Rico in Ponce
Co-Author(s): Sonia Bailon, University, Puerto Rico, Ponce
Selenium and cadmium nanoparticles are semiconductor materials that have many applications according to the size of the nanoparticle. The size-dependent emission makes these nanomaterials important in light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, solar cells, lasers, and biomedical labels. Given their often use, selenium and cadmium nanoparticles constantly reach the environment; therefore, the interest of the toxicity of these nanoparticles has increased in the scientific community. Based on the previously mentioned, the present project has three objectives: 1) synthesis of selenium and cadmium nanoparticles; 2) optical characterization of this nanomaterial; 3) evaluation of the toxicity of CdSe nanoparticles in aquatic organisms. Two sizes of nanoparticles were fabricated through change of the Cd/Se/TGA (thioglycolic acid) molar ratio with the purpose of studying the effect of the nanoparticle size in the toxicity of aquatic organisms. The synthesis of CdSe at Cd/Se/TGA molar ratio of 1/0.05/3.6 showed an emission peak centered at 637 nm; while Cd/Se/TGA molar ratio of 1/0.1/3.6 showed a fluorescence peak centered at 644 nm. The emission peaks represent the recombination processes of the electron-hole pairs in the CdSe lattice. Likewise, the results showed that the growth of nanoparticles is promoted by increasing the concentration of selenium, achieving a red-shift. Future works are focused on evaluating the effect of the size in larval stages of aquatic organisms. It is expected the toxicity will increase when the size of the particles decreases. Reference: Farva, U. & Park, C. 2009. Influence of thermal annealing on the structural and optical properties of CdSe nanoparticles. Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells. 94 (2010) 303?309304. Sharma, H., Sharma, S., Singh, G. & Shivaprasad, S.M. 2006. Effect of ratios of Cd:Se in CdSe nanoparticles on optical edge shifts and photoluminescence properties. Physica E. 31 (2006) 180?186. Zeng, J., Lu, W., Wang, X., Wang, B., Wang, G. & Hou, J.G. 2006. Fine tuning photoluminescence properties of CdSe nanoparticles by surface states modulation. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 298 (2006) 685-688.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Institutional fundings of the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce.
Faculty Advisor: Sonia Bailon-Ruiz, sonia.bailon@upr.edu
Role: The completed research was made by myself and the support of my mentor, Dra. Sonia Bailon-Ruiz in the facilities of the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce.