Quantum dots (QDs) are colloidal semiconducting nanocrystals composed of an inorganic core surrounded by an organic outer layer of surfactant molecules (ligands) [1] . They develop emission when excited with a UV light. The wavelength of emission depends on the size of the nanoparticles [2] [3] . Their semiconducting properties originate from their excitons confined in all three spatial dimensions [4] . Especially, useful are the core-shell type nanoparticles composed of two kinds of semiconductors, e.g. CdS/ZnS [5] , CdSe/ZnS [6] and CdSe/CdS [7] . In each pair of the sulphides/selenides, the first of them plays a role of the core while the second one forms a shell extending the gap of the emission of the core QDs. Such paired nanoparticles are high-efficiency photoluminescent (PL) materials [8] . Such property extends a wide range of applications of QDs as transistors, components of solar cells, light-emitting devices and diode lasers; they can also be used as agents for medical imaging [9] -[12] , fluorescent labels [13] -[15] , fluorescent probes [16] -[20] , and immunosensors [21] [22] .

Concentration of diluted suspensions of nanoparticles of several materials results in agglomeration leading to loss of advantages resulting from their nanodimensions. Therefore, QDs are frequently synthesized in the presence of organic molecules which prevent them from agglomeration and form a coating for the QDs. Application of QDs in biological studies succeeded due to their conjugation with proteins [23] -[27] , peptides and amino acids [28] [29] . Also polysaccharides were applied for that purpose. The studies involved amino polysaccharides such as chitosan [30] -[35] , cellulose, starch and other polysaccharides [36] -[43] .

Polysaccharides offer some advantage as they provide drawing luminescent foils with embedded QDs. Properties of the foils depend on the polysaccharide applied. In case of starches, their pasting ability and rheological properties of resulting pastes are essential for the attributes of nanocrystals and the resulting foil composites. However, our former studies showed that the anionic/nonionic character of the polysaccharide matrix was also a factor. These observations prompted us to check how the generated QDs would behave in the tapioca starch matrix. Tapioca (cassava, manioq, yucca) starch (TS) is a common, non-ionic starch known for providing smooth uniform gels of much lower viscosity than many other natural starches [44] .

In this paper an original, simple and cheap in situ synthesis of ZnS, CdS, ZnS-CdS and CdS-ZnS core-shell QDs in aqueous TS gel is presented. Biocomposites were characterized by using photoluminescence (PL), FTIR and UV/VIS spectrometric techniques and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Thermal properties (DSC, TG) of biocomposites were also measured. In order to check the impact of the QDs formation on the structure of polysaccharide chains, the absolute molecular weights (M_W) were measured for two dominating fractions of TS prior and after generation QDs. They were determined with a size exclusion chromatography with dual detection (SEC-MALLS-RI).

The TEM microscopy showed metal sulfides under study embedded in the TS matrix as 3 - 10 nm nanocrystals with a low tendency for agglomeration (Figure 1). This result confirmed our observation that nonanionic polysaccharides were superior matrices for generation of nanocrystals of metallic [45] and QDs [42] [43] particles.

The matrices made of anionic starches favored formation of much larger and agglomerating nanocrystals (Khachatryan, K., Khachatryan, G., Fiedorowicz, M., Distarch phosphate as a matrix for generation of quantum dots, Iran. J. Chem. Chem. Eng., submitted, 2015).

TS was separated with size exclusion chromatography into fractions among which two fractions dominated. They were higher molecular fraction of M_w = 1.18 × 10⁶ g/mol and lower molecular fraction of M_w = 1.27 × 10⁵ g/mol. The amount ratio of the collected fractions was high: low = 1.82. After generation of ZnS and ZnS/CdS QDs also two dominating fractions could be distinguished in the eluates but in the proportions of high: low = 0.43 and 0.47, respectively. Size exclusion chromatography of TS after generation CdS and CdS/ZnS QDs provided in the first case two fractions in that proportion of 0.69 and in the second case only low molecular fraction could be collected from the column. M_w of all collected fractions insignificantly differed from the corresponding values for original gelatinized TS.

Thus, one could deduce that the generation of QDs within the high molecular weight fraction of the gel was favored. That observation fitted results of the study by Ciesielski and Tomasik [45] that amylopectin formed Werner complexes with metal ions whereas amylose was passive as a ligand.

The UV-VIS spectrum of TS (Figure 2) demonstrated a low absorption shoulder around 250 nm belonging likely to n → π^* transitions in the lone electron pairs at the oxygen atoms. All preparations of TS with embedded QDs showed a strong absorption band around 220 nm followed by the long wavelength tail reaching its bottom in the spectrum of TS/ZnS already around 330 nm and between 450 - 500 nm in the spectra of the preparations containing CdS (Figure 2).

The emission spectra of the preparations (Figure 3) showed an emission maximum from TS/ZnS and TS/CdS around 440 and 540 nm, respectively. Supplementation of ZnS within TS with CdS QDs appeared very successful

in a significant raising the intensity of the emission maximum, however, without a shift of the wavelength of the emission. The increase in the intensity of the emission band could be observed when in the TS/CdS preparation ZnS was additionally generated. The shoulder of an intensive emission could be observed around 440 nm (Figure 3). These effects showed that blending QDs of two different origins was a very successful approach in increasing the intensity of emission. The emission patterns implied that the original QDs were the nuclei for the formation of the subsequent QDs, thus the binary QDs could be bilayered species.

Thermograms of TS (Figure 4) showed that the polysaccharide lost ~10% of its weight around 100˚C. That loss resulted from departure of the absorbed moisture. That effect was followed by a rapid loss of further ~16% weight at approximately 250˚C. It could be associated with a departure of water molecules on formation of 3,6-anhydro derivatives of TS. Subsequently, TS lost further ~45% weight to 320˚C and another ~25% up to 450˚C. Above 450˚ there was no further decomposition and the weight stabilized on the level of 5% residual carbonizate.

The decomposition pattern of the TS/QDs preparations was initially similar. The preparations lost some moisture then began to decompose at the same temperature as plain TS. Further decomposition pattern was different. The preparations lost their weight less rapidly and only TS/CdS decomposed up to 320˚C in two well distinguished steps. Some slight increase in the weight after initial decomposition could result from a reaction of CdS with atmospheric oxygen as such effect was absent when thermogravimetry was run under argon. Further decomposition pattern for all other preparations was the same. Temperatures of the corresponding decomposition steps were the same and only the weight of the residues was different. The latter were approximately 15%, 12%, 8% and 8% for TS with embedded ZnS, CdS, ZnS-CdS and CdS-ZnS, respectively.

Such course of decomposition might suggest that the introduction of QDs into the TS gel could influence the internal structure of the gel but they did not form complexes with the polysaccharide. The latter assumption was backed by analysis of FTIR spectra of particular preparations and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All FTIR spectra were identical (Figure 5).

The DSC diagrams of TS and TS/QDS preparations differed solely in the low temperature region where endothermic effects associated with physical water-polysaccharide relations appeared. Further parts of the diagrams showed a close resemblance (Figure 6). There were slightly exothermic effects around 250˚C common for all samples. The major exothermic effect of comparable magnitude occurred around 320˚C.

1) Tapioca starch is suitable as the matrix for QDs as it limits the growth of QDs particles and prevents them

from agglomeration.

2) The core-shell technique of the generation of binary QDs provides a significant increase in the emission intensity without any shift of the emission wavelength. The recorded emission comes from the shell forming component.

KarenKhachatryan,GoharKhachatryan,MaciejFiedorowicz, (2015) Synthesis of ZnS, CdS and Core-Shell Mixed CdS/ZnS, ZnS/CdS Nanocrystals in Tapioca Starch Matrix. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,03,30-38. doi: 10.4236/msce.2015.311005