In situ synthesis and photoluminescence of QD-CdS on silk fibroin fibers at room temperature.

A convenient room-temperature bioinspired technique has been developed to synthesize hybrid nanocomposites consisting of well-dispersed CdS quantum dots (QD) and the substrate silk fibroin fibers (SFF). The biomaterial SFF provides both a supporting substrate and functional sites for the in situ generation of QD-CdS, which is supported by FTIR and PL measurements. The solid QD-CdS/SFF nanocomposites could be useful in photocatalyst, novel luminescence and photoelectron transfer devices. The QD-CdS/silk fibroin (SF) colloid, in which SF acts as both an inherent biocompatibilizer and an efficient passivator of trap sites on the QD-CdS surface, is also available for some potential applications in the biological fields. The bioinspired method and relevant ideas could extend to fabricating other functional hybrid materials.