Reversible sensing of nitrogen dioxide using photoluminescent CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and enhanced response by combination with noble metals

Abstract

We report here a novel, sensitive detection method for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) using thin films of CdSe/ZnS core–shell type quantum dots (QDs) with and without noble metal (NM) nanoparticles (Au, Pt, or Pt-Pd alloy) deposited on a glass substrate. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the QD-only film and NM-QD composite films with porous microstructure rapidly decreased on exposure to NO₂ (1–100 ppm) in air, and it reversibly recovered after the atmosphere was changed back to air without NO₂. Interestingly, the Au-QD, Pt-QD, and Pt-Pd-QD films showed higher sensitivity when compared with the QD-only film. The reversible responses of QD-only film, Au-QD film, Pt-QD film, and Pt-Pd-QD film to NO₂ in air suggested that the CdSe/ZnS QD film and NM-QD films could be promising PL-based optical NO₂ sensors. Furthermore, the high NO₂ sensitivity, but low ozone sensitivity, in the Pt-Pd-QD film suggests the possibility of recognizing these two oxidizing gases by using the gas-selective catalytic activity of Pd.