SYNTHESIS AND INVESTIGATION OF SILVER DOPED ZINC SELENIUM NANOPARTICLES USING MERCAPTOPROPIONIC ACID AS A SURFACTANT FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The synthesis of silver doped zinc selenium nanoparticles (ZnSe:Ag NPs) in aqueous medium using mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a surface stabilizer was carried out with the aim of having potential applications in luminescence and medicine. The optimal percentage of Ag dopant was found to be 1 %. The luminescence properties of the ZnSe:Ag particles was initially evaluated by using UV light. The UV spectrum was used to investigate the absorption of ZnSe:Ag Nanoparticles, and the interaction of ZnSe:Ag/MPA quantum dots with amino acid was investigated to determine the biocompatibility of the particles for applying to potential applications. The results showed that the fluorescence intensity of the particles was effectively improved. The photoluminescence (PL) of quantum dots (QDs) increased significantly as the amino acid concentration increased (Poly-L-Lysine). Moreover, ZnSe:Ag nanoparticles were successfully prepared with a green method of precipitation in aqueous solutions and using MPA as a stabilizer. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy had proved the formation of ZnSe:Ag particles and the interaction between them and the MPA stabilizer. TEM image was used to measure the size of the ZnSe:Ag (1 %) luminescent nanoparticles synthesized by green method. Besides, the XPS spectrum shows elements present in the ZnSe:Ag nanoparticle crystals.