CdTe nanocrystals capped with a tetrazolyl analogue of thioglycolic acid: aqueous synthesis, characterization, and metal-assisted assembly.

A novel ligand, 5-mercaptomethyltetrazole, is applied to the direct colloidal synthesis of highly luminescent (quantum yield of up to 60%) water-soluble CdTe nanocrystals. In the synthesis the 5-mercaptomethyltetrazole behaves analogously to the widely used thioglycolic acid, providing the additional advantage of solubility of the resulting nanocrystals in methanol. Moreover, the 5-mercaptomethyltetrazole-capped nanocrystals possess the unique ability to reversibly form fine 3D networks (hydrogels) upon the addition of metal salts.