In dieser Arbeit wurden sphärische Gold Nanopartikel (NP) mit einem Durchmesser größer ~ 2 nm, Gold Quantenpunkte (QDs) mit einem Durchmesser kleiner ~ 2 nm sowie Gold Nanostäbchen (NRs) unterschiedlicher Länge hergestellt und optisch charakterisiert. Zudem wurden zwei neue Synthesevarianten für die Herstellung thermosensitiver Gold QDs entwickelt werden. Sphärische Gold NP zeigen eine Plasmonenbande bei ~ 520 nm, die auf die kollektive Oszillation von Elektronen zurückzuführen ist. Gold NRs weisen aufgrund ihrer anisotropen Form zwei Plasmonenbanden auf, eine transversale Plasmonenbande bei ~ 520 nm und eine longitudinale Plasmonenbande, die vom Länge-zu-Durchmesser-Verhältnis der Gold NRs abhängig ist. Gold QDs besitzen keine Plasmonenbande, da ihre Elektronen Quantenbeschränkungen unterliegen. Gold QDs zeigen jedoch aufgrund diskreter Energieniveaus und einer Bandlücke Photolumineszenz (PL). Die synthetisierten Gold QDs besitzen eine Breitbandlumineszenz im Bereich von ~ 500-800 nm, wobei die Lumineszenz-eigenschaften (Emissionspeak, Quantenausbeute, Lebenszeiten) stark von den Herstellungs-bedingungen und den Oberflächenliganden abhängen. Die PL in Gold QDs ist ein sehr komplexes Phänomen und rührt vermutlich von Singulett- und Triplett-Zuständen her. Gold NRs und Gold QDs konnten in verschiedene Polymere wie bspw. Cellulosetriacetat eingearbeitet werden. Polymernanokomposite mit Gold NRs wurden erstmals unter definierten Bedingungen mechanisch gezogen, um Filme mit optisch anisotropen (richtungsabhängigen) Eigenschaften zu erhalten. Zudem wurde das Temperaturverhalten von Gold NRs und Gold QDs untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine lokale Variation der Größe und Form von Gold NRs in Polymernanokompositen durch Temperaturerhöhung auf 225-250 °C erzielt werden kann. Es zeigte sich, dass die PL der Gold QDs stark temperaturabhängig ist, wodurch die PL QY der Proben beim Abkühlen (-7 °C) auf knapp 30 % verdoppelt und beim Erhitzen auf 70 °C nahezu vollständig gelöscht werden konnte. Es konnte demonstriert werden, dass die Länge der Alkylkette des Oberflächenliganden einen Einfluss auf die Temperaturstabilität der Gold QDs hat. Zudem wurden verschiedene neuartige und optisch anisotrope Sicherheitslabels mit Gold NRs sowie thermosensitive Sicherheitslabel mit Gold QDs entwickelt. Ebenso scheinen Gold NRs und QDs für die und die Optoelektronik (bspw. Datenspeicherung) und die Medizin (bspw. Krebsdiagnostik bzw. -therapie) von großem Interesse zu sein. / In this thesis, the synthesis and optical characterization of spherical gold nanoparticles (NP) with diameters larger than ~ 2 nm, gold quantum dots (QDs) with diameters smaller than ~ 2 nm and gold nanorods (NRs) with different lengths are presented. In addition, a novel one-pot synthesis for the preparation of thermosensitive gold QDs is introduced. Gold NP solutions appear red colored due to their strong absorption in the visible range at ~ 520 nm. This absorption band is a result of surface plasmon resonance, which is caused by the coherent oscillation of conduction band electrons induced by an electromagnetic field. In contrast to spherical gold NPs, gold NRs show two surface plasmon bands due to their anisotropic shape, a transverse plasmon band at ~ 520 nm and a longitudinal plasmon band depending on the aspect ratio (length-to-width-ratio) of the gold NRs. If the size of the gold NPs decreases to values below ~ 2 nm, quantum-size confinement occurs and the surface plasmon band disappears. Additionally, the overlap between conduction band and valence band disappears, discrete electronic levels arise and a band gap is created. As a consequence of quantum confinement, the gold QDs show photoluminescence (PL) upon UV-irradiation. The gold QDs synthesized via the one-pot synthesis exhibit a broadband luminescence between 500 nm and 800 nm. The luminescence properties (emission peak, quantum yield, lifetime) strongly depend on the synthetic parameters like reaction temperature, stoichiometry and the surface ligand. Gold NRs and gold QDs were incoroporated into different polymers (e.g. cellulose triacetate). Polymer nanocomposite films showing optical anisotropy are obtainded by stretching polymer films containing gold NRs uniaxial in a tensile test machine. In addition to the optical characterization of gold NRs and QDs, their thermal behavior in solution as well as in different nanocomposites is studied. A shortening of the gold NRs or a transformation into spherical gold NP is observed, if the polymer nanocomposites containing gold NRs are heated above a temperature of 200 °C. The PL of the synthesized gold QDs strongly depends on the ambient temperature. An increase of PL quantum yield (QY) and PL lifetime occur, if the solutions are cooled. The best PL QY of 16.6 % was observed for octadecyl mercaptan capped gold QDs at room temperature, which could be improved to 28.6 % when cooling the solutions to -7 °C. Furthermore, optically anisotropic security labels containing gold NRs and thermosensitive security devices containing gold QDs are developed. Due to their unique optical properties, gold NRs and QDs are interesting candidates for optoelectronical as well as data storage devices and medical applications like biomedical imaging or cancer therapy.

Der Einfluss der Verspannung während des Wachstums von InAs auf GaAs(001) mittels Molekularstrahlepitaxie wird in dieser Arbeit untersucht. Eine Biegebalkenapparatur wurde benutzt, um den Verlauf der Filmkraft während des Wachstums und dem nachfolgenden Anlassen bei Wachstumstemperaturen zu messen. Die Steigung in einer Darstellung von Filmkraft gegen Filmdicke ist gleich der Verspannung, die sich während des heteroepitaktischen Wachstums bildet. Während des Wachstums von InAs auf GaAs(001) unter As-reichen Bedingungen zeigt die Filmkraft zuerst eine lineare Steigung. Dieser lineare Verlauf entspricht dem Aufdampfen der Benetzungsschicht (WL). Nach Erreichen der kritischen Schichtdicke verläuft die Filmkraft mit geringerer Steigung, was auf einen Abbau der Verspannung durch das Auftreten von Quantenpunkten (QP) hindeutet. Werden die QP nachfolgend angelassen, nimmt die Filmkraft wieder ab was durch Reifung der QDs und durch Desorption von InAs hervorgerufen wird. Modelle wurden entwickelt um die Filmkraft-Kurven, die während des Anlassens gemessen wurden, anzupassen. Die QP reifen unter Standard-Ostwald-Bedingungen für Temperaturen unterhalb 470°C. Verschiedene Mechanismen bestimmen den Reifungsprozess. Beim Anlassen bei höheren Temperaturen zeigt sich ein anderes Verhalten. Die Verspannung der QP baut sich auf Werte unterhalb der Verspannung ab, die durch das Aufbringen der Benetzungsschicht entstanden ist. Rasterkraftmikroskop-Aufnahmen zeigen, dass die QP zuerst reifen und sich dann nach ca. 450s bis 600s wieder auflösen. Im Unterschied zum Wachstum unter As-reichen Bedingungen führt das Wachstum unter In-reichen Bedingungen nicht zur Ausbildung von QP sondern verläuft im Lagenwachstumsmodus. Filmkraft-Kurven wurden ebenfalls unter diesen Bedingungen gemessen und zeigen, wie erwartet, eine deutliche Abweichungen von Kurven, die während des Stranski-Krastanov-Wachstums gemessen wurden. Eine erste vorläufige Analyse dieser Filmkraftkurven wird beschrieben. / The influence of stress on the growth of InAs on GaAs(001) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is investigated in this thesis. An in-situ cantilever beam measurement (CBM) setup was used to measure the evolution of the film force during deposition and subsequent annealing at the growth temperature. The slope in a plot of film force versus film thickness is equal to the stress that builds up during heteroepitaxial growth. During the growth of InAs on GaAs(001) under As-rich conditions, the film force shows a linear slope up to a value of 2.3 N/m. This linear increase in film force corresponds to the deposition of the wetting layer. Beyond the critical thickness of 1.5-1.6 monolayers, the film force proceeds with a decreasing slope, indicating a strain release by the formation of quantum dots. When the samples are subsequently annealed, the film force decreases again due to the ripening of the quantum dots and the desorption of InAs. Models were developed to fit and explain the relaxation of the film force measured during the annealing of InAs quantum dots. At temperatures lower than 470°C, quantum dots undergo standard Ostwald ripening. Different mechanisms determine the ripening process. Fits of the models based on these mechanisms were made to the film force relaxation curves. Annealing of quantum dots at temperatures higher than 500°C shows a very different behavior. The film force accumulated during the quantum dot formation relaxes below the value which was built-up by the wetting layer growth. Atomic force microscopy images reveal that the quantum dots ripen first and then dissolve after 450s to 600s annealing. In contrast to the growth under As-rich conditions, the growth under In-rich conditions does not lead to the formation of quantum dots but proceeds rather in a layer-by-layer growth mode. The film force curves were also measured during this deposition mode. A preliminary analysis of the film force curves is presented.

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) plays an important role for biochemical applications such as DNA sequencing, intracellular protein-protein interactions, molecular binding studies, in vitro diagnostics and many others. For qualitative and quantitative analysis, FRET systems are usually assembled through molecular recognition of biomolecules conjugated with donor and acceptor luminophores. Lanthanide (Ln) complexes, as well as semiconductor quantum dot nanocrystals (QD), possess unique photophysical properties that make them especially suitable for applied FRET. In this work the possibility of using QD as very efficient FRET acceptors in combination with Ln complexes as donors in biochemical systems is demonstrated. The necessary theoretical and practical background of FRET, Ln complexes, QD and the applied biochemical models is outlined. In addition, scientific as well as commercial applications are presented. FRET can be used to measure structural changes or dynamics at distances ranging from approximately 1 to 10 nm. The very strong and well characterized binding process between streptavidin (Strep) and biotin (Biot) is used as a biomolecular model system. A FRET system is established by Strep conjugation with the Ln complexes and QD biotinylation. Three Ln complexes (one with Tb3+ and two with Eu3+ as central ion) are used as FRET donors. Besides the QD two further acceptors, the luminescent crosslinked protein allophycocyanin (APC) and a commercial fluorescence dye (DY633), are investigated for direct comparison. FRET is demonstrated for all donor-acceptor pairs by acceptor emission sensitization and a more than 1000-fold increase of the luminescence decay time in the case of QD reaching the hundred microsecond regime. Detailed photophysical characterization of donors and acceptors permits analysis of the bioconjugates and calculation of the FRET parameters. Extremely large Förster radii of more than 100 Å are achieved for QD as acceptors, considerably larger than for APC and DY633 (ca. 80 and 60 Å). Special attention is paid to interactions with different additives in aqueous solutions, namely borate buffer, bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium azide and potassium fluoride (KF). A more than 10-fold limit of detection (LOD) decrease compared to the extensively characterized and frequently used donor-acceptor pair of Europium tris(bipyridine) (Eu-TBP) and APC is demonstrated for the FRET system, consisting of the Tb complex and QD. A sub-picomolar LOD for QD is achieved with this system in azide free borate buffer (pH 8.3) containing 2 % BSA and 0.5 M KF. In order to transfer the Strep-Biot model system to a real-life in vitro diagnostic application, two kinds of imunnoassays are investigated using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as analyte. HCG itself, as well as two monoclonal anti-HCG mouse-IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies are labeled with the Tb complex and QD, respectively. Although no sufficient evidence for FRET can be found for a sandwich assay, FRET becomes obvious in a direct HCG-IgG assay showing the feasibility of using the Ln-QD donor-acceptor pair as highly sensitive analytical tool for in vitro diagnostics. / Förster Resonanzenergietransfer (FRET) spielt eine wichtige Rolle in biochemischen Anwendungen, wie z.B. DNA-Sequenzierung, intrazellulären Protein-Protein-Wechselwirkungen, molekularen Bindungsstudien, in-vitro-Diagnostik und vielen anderen. Zur quantitativen und qualitativen Analyse werden FRET Systeme normalerweise durch molekulare Erkennung von Biomolekülen, die mit Donator- und Acceptorluminophoren markiert sind, ermöglicht. Durch die besonderen photophysikalischen Eigenschaften sowohl von Lanthanidkomplexen (Ln-Komplexen), als auch Halbleiternanokristallen (sog. Quantenpunkten oder Quantumdots - QD), sind diese besonders für FRET Anwendungen geeignet. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird effizienter FRET zwischen Ln-Komplexen und QD in biochemischen Systemen demonstriert. Die notwendigen theoretischen und praktischen Grundlagen über FRET, Ln-Komplexe, QD und die verwendeten biochemischen Modelle werden dargestellt, und wissenschaftliche als auch kommerzielle Anwendungen werden präsentiert. FRET kann zur Messung von strukturellen Veränderungen und Dynamiken im Bereich von ca. 1 bis 10 nm verwendet werden. Der sehr starke und gut charakterisierte Bindungsprozess zwischen Streptavidin (Strep) und Biotin (Biot) wird als biomolekulares Modellsystem eingesetzt. Ein FRET System wird durch Streptavidinkonjugation mit Ln-Komplexen und QD-Biotinylierung etabliert. Drei Ln-Komplexe (einer mit Tb3+ und zwei mit Eu3+ als Zentralion) werden als Donatoren verwendet, und neben QD werden zwei weitere Acceptoren, das lumineszierende, quervernetzte Protein Allophycocyanin (APC) und ein kommerzieller Fluoreszenzfarbstoff (DY633), untersucht. FRET kann für alle Donator-Acceptor Paare nachgewiesen werden, zum einen durch sensibilisierte Acceptorlumineszenz und zum anderen durch eine über 1000-fach erhöhte Lumineszenzabklingzeit der QD mit über 100 Mikrosekunden. Mittels detailierter photophysikalischer Charakterisierung der Donatoren und Acceptoren können die Biokonjugate analysiert und die FRET Parameter berechnet werden. Für die QD FRET Systeme ergeben sich extrem große Försterradien von über 100 Å, die wesentlich größer sind als für APC und DY633 (ca. 80 bzw. 60 Å). Besondere Aufmerksamkeit gilt der Wechselwirkung mit den Zusatzreagenzien Boratpuffer, Bovines Serumalbumin (BSA), Natriumazid und Kaliumfluorid (KF) in den wässrigen Lösungen. Im Vergleich zum ausgiebig charakterisierten und vielfach verwendeten Donator-Acceptor Paar aus Europium-tris(Bipyridin) (Eu-TBP) und APC wird eine mehr als 10-fache Senkung der Nachweisgrenze für das FRET-System, bestehend aus Tb-Komplex und QD, erreicht. In azidfreiem Boratpuffer (pH 8,3) mit 2 % BSA und 0,5 M KF wird eine subpicomolare QD-Nachweisgrenze für dieses System aufgezeigt. Um den Transfer des Strep-Biot Modellsystems in eine echte in-vitro-diagnostische Anwendung zu demonstrieren, werden zwei Immuntests zum HCG-(Humanes Choriongonadotropin)-Nachweis untersucht. Sowohl HCG als auch monoklonale anti-HCG Maus-IgG-(Immunoglobulin G)-Antikörper werden mit dem Tb-Komplex bzw. mit QD markiert. Obwohl kein ausreichender Nachweis für FRET in einem immunometrischen Assay (oder Sandwichassay) erbracht werden kann, wird FRET in einem direkten HCG-IgG Assay erzielt, wodurch die Realisierbarkeit von Ln-QD Donator-Acceptor Paaren zur hochsensitiven Anwendung in der in-vitro-Diagnostik gezeigt werden kann.

Der Förster-Resonanzenergietransfer (FRET) liefert einen wichtigen Beitrag bei der Untersuchung kleinskaliger biologischer Systeme und Prozesse. Möglich wird dies durch die r-6-Abhängigkeit des FRET, die es erlaubt Abstände und strukturelle Änderungen weit unterhalb der Beugungsgrenze des Lichts mit hoher Sensitivität und geringem Aufwand zu bestimmen. Die besonderen photophysikalischen Eigenschaften von Terbiumkomplexen (LTC) und Quantenpunkten (QD) machen sie zu geeigneten Kandidaten für hochsensitive und störungsarme Multiplex-Abstandsmessungen in biologischen Systemen und Prozessen. Die Abstandsbestimmungen setzen jedoch eine genaueste Kenntnis des Mechanismus des Energietransfers von LTC auf QD ebenso voraus, wie das Wissen um Größe und Gestalt letzterer. Quantenpunkte haben im Vergleich zu biologischen Strukturen ähnliche Dimensionen und können nicht als punktförmig betrachtet werden, wie es bei einfacheren Farbstoffen möglich ist. Durch ihre Form kommt es zu einer Abstandsverteilung innerhalb des Donor-Akzeptorsystems. Dies beeinflusst den Energietransfer und damit die experimentellen Ergebnisse. In dieser Arbeit wurde der Energietransfer von LTC auf QD untersucht, um zu einer Aussage hinsichtlich des Mechanismus der Energieübertragung und der dabei zu berücksichtigenden photophysikalischen und strukturellen Parameter von LTC und QD zu gelangen. Mit der Annahme einer Abstandsverteilung sollten die Größen der Quantenpunkte bestimmt und der Einfluss von Form und Gestalt auf den Energietransfer betrachtet werden. Die notwendigen theoretischen und praktischen Grundlagen wurden eingangs dargestellt. Daran schlossen sich Messungen zur photophysikalischen Charakterisierung der Donoren und Akzeptoren an, die Grundlage der Berechnung der FRET-Parameter waren. Die Förster-Radien zeigten die für den FRET von LTC auf QD typischen extrem hohen Werte von bis zu 11 nm. Zeitaufgelöste Messungen der FRET-induzierten Lumineszenz der Donoren und Akzeptoren in den beiden biomolekularen Modellsystemen Zink-Histidin und Biotin-Streptavidin beschlossen den praktischen Teil. Als Donor wurde Lumi4Tb gebunden an ein Peptid bzw. Streptavidin genutzt, Akzeptoren waren fünf verschiedene, kommerziell erhältliche Quantenpunkte mit Carboxyl- bzw. Biotinfunktionalisierung. Bei allen Donor-Akzeptor-Paarungen konnte FRET beobachtet und ausgewertet werden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die gesamte Emission des Terbiums zum Energietransfer beiträgt und der Orientierungsfaktor ² den Wert 2/3 annimmt. Die Charakterisierung der Bindungsverhältnisse innerhalb der FRET-Paare von LTC und QD über Verteilungsfunktionen bietet über die Form der Verteilungskurve die Möglichkeit Aussagen über die Gestalt der FRET-Partner zu treffen. So war es möglich, die mittlere Form der Quantenpunkte als Sphäre zu bestimmen. Dies entsprach, insbesondere bei den in z-Richtung des Kristallgitters elongierten Quantenpunkten, nicht den Erwartungen. Dieser Befund ermöglicht daher bei zukünftigen Messungen eine Verbesserung der Genauigkeit bei Abstandsbestimmungen mit Quantenpunkten. Neben der Ermittlung der die FRET-Verteilung bestimmenden Gestalt der Quantenpunkte konnte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit anhand vergleichender Messungen die Dicke der Polymerhülle der QD bestimmt und so gezeigt werden, dass FRET-Paare aus lumineszenten Terbiumkomplexen und Quantenpunkten in der Lage sind, Abstände im Nano- bis Sub-Nanometerbereich aufzulösen. / Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) plays an important role in the study of small-scale biological systems and processes. This is made possible by the r-6-dependence of FRET, which allows for determination of distances and structural changes far below the diffraction limit of light with high sensitivity and low costs. The unique photophysical properties of terbium complexes (LTC) and quantum dots (QDs) make them suitable candidates for high-sensitivity, low-noise multiplex distance measurements in biological systems and processes. Estimating distances with these FRET-pairs requires a precise knowledge of the mechanism of energy transfer from LTC to QD as well as the knowledge of size and shape of the latter. Quantum dots have, compared to biological structures, similar dimensions and therefore can not be considered as point-like, as it is possible with smaller dyes. Due to their shape, there is a distance distribution within the donor-acceptor system. This influences the energy transfer and hence the experimental results. In this work, the energy transfer from LTC to QD was examined to come to a conclusion regarding the mechanism of energy transfer and the photophysical and structural parameters of LTC and QD to be considered. The adoption of a FRET-distance distribution due to a size distribution of quantum dots should yield to a size estimation of the nanoparticles as well as a conclusion of the influence of shape and form on energy transfer. The necessary theoretical and practical principles were described at the outset of this work. This description of the basic concepts was followed by the photophysical characterization of the donors and acceptors and the calculation of FRET parameters. The calculated Förster radii were typical for the FRET from LTC to QD and showed extremely high values of up to 11 nm. Time-resolved measurements of the FRET-induced luminescence of donors and acceptors in two biomolecular model binding systems namely zinc-histidine and biotin-streptavidin binding rounded the practical part. FRET-donors used were commercially available Lumi4Tb complexes bound to streptavidin or a peptide, respectively. As FRET-acceptors five different commercially available quantum dots with carboxyl- or biotin-functionalisation were used. For all donor-acceptor pairs FRET could be observed and evaluated. It could be shown that the whole emission of terbium contributes to energy transfer. Furthermore the orientation factor ² was estimated to have a value of 2/3 when using LTC as FRET-donors and QD as FRET-acceptors. The characterization of the bonding within the FRET pairs of LTC and QD with distribution functions allows for statements about the shape of the FRET partners via shape of the distribution curves. It was possible to determine the average shape of the quantum dots as a sphere. This outcome was, especially for (in z-direction of the crystal lattice) elongated quantum dots, in the contrary to the expectations. This finding therefore allows for improving the accuracy of distance determinations with quantum dots. Based on comparative measurements it was also possible to determine the thickness of the polymer shell of the QD demonstrating that FRET pairs of luminescent terbium complexes and quantum dots are capable of determining distances in the nanometer to sub-nanometer range.

Increasing the integration density of electron device components will necessitate the use of new nanofabrication paradigms that complement and extend existing technologies. One potential approach to overcome the current limitations of electron-beam lithography may involve the use of hybrid systems, in which existing lithographic techniques are coupled with “bottom up” approaches such as supramolecular self-assembly. In this respect, biological systems offer some unique possibilities as they combine both self-organization and spatial patterning at the nanometer length scale. In particular, Surface Layer Proteins (S-layers) can facilitate high order organization and specific orientation of inorganic structures as they are two-dimensional porous crystalline membranes with regular structure at the nanometer scale. In this framework, the aim of the present work was the characterization of the S-layer of Sporosarcina ureae ATCC 13881 (SslA) with respect to its self-assembling properties and modification that would allow it to be employed as a patterning element and a new building block for nanobiotechnology. In vitro recrystallization experiments have shown that wild type SslA self-assembles into monolayers, multilayers or tubes. Factors such as initial monomer concentration, Ca2+ ions, pH of the recrystallization buffer and the presence of a silicon substrate have a strong influence on the recrystallization process. SslA monolayers proved to be an excellent biotemplate for ordered assembly of gold nanoparticle arrays. The recombinant SslA after expression and purification formed micrometer sized, crystalline monolayers exhibiting the same lattice structure as the wild type protein (p4 symmetry). This remarkable property of self-assembling has been preserved even when SslA was truncated. The deletion of both, N- and C-terminal SslA domains does not hinder self-assembly; the resulting protein is able to form extended monolayers that exhibit the p4 lattice symmetry. The central SslA-domain is self sufficient for the self-assembly. The possibility to change the natural properties of S-layers by genetic engineering techniques opens a new horizon for the tuning of their structural and functional features. The SslA-streptavidin fusion protein combines the remarkable property of self-assembling with the ligand i.e. biotin binding function. On silicon wafers, this chimeric protein recrystallized into coherent protein layers and exposes streptavidin, fact demonstrated by binding studies using biotinylated quantum dots. In this way, it can serve as a functional surface for controlled immobilization of biologically active molecules but also as a platform for the synthesis of planar arrays of quantum dots. Furthermore, the results open up exciting possibilities for construction of hybrid S-layers, structures that may ultimately promote the fabrication of miniaturized, nanosized electronic devices.

Nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention during the past decades due to their unique and fascinating properties. However, this class of materials is not an invention of modern age. People have been using nanomaterials for centuries, although unwittingly. Probably the most famous example for the usage of nanomaterials in ancient times is the Lycurgus Cup, a Roman glass cage cup created in the 4th century which changes the colour of its glass from green to ruby depending on the illumination conditions. The foundation for the development of the field of nanotechnology was laid by the speech of Feynman “There is plenty of room at the bottom” in 1959, in which he spoke about the principles of miniaturisation as low as to the atomic level. Today, modern nanotechnology made it its business to purposefully develop and synthesise nanomaterials as well as to face their applications in various fields, such as microelectronics, catalysis or biomedicine. However, the term “nanomaterials” does not solely involve the nanoparticulate units itself, but also their arrangement into two- or three-dimensional structures. Thereby, the maintenance of the nanoscale properties is one of the main challenges. This task was focussed by this work implied the preparation and macroscale arrangement of fluorescent QDs while preserving their optical properties. The main achievement of this work was the development of a novel aerogel material with non-quenching PL behaviour by using silica coated QDs as nanoparticulate building units. In comparison to other monolithic silica-QD structures or aerogels from pure QDs, a defined and controllable distance between the fluorescent QDs is provided in these structures by the silica shell. The spacing was shown to efficiently disable energy transfers so that no spectral shifts, lifetime shortening or PL QY losses are observed during the colloid to gel transition. The silica shell, established by a standard reverse microemulsion approach, was found to exhibit a certain porosity, which was proven by gas adsorption measurements. Existing cavities in the micro- and mesoporous range were found to allow small species such as metal ions to pass through the shell and interact with the QD core causing a detectable change of the PL intensity, which makes these materials suitable for future sensing applications. The gel preparation was based on a metal ion assisted complexation approach, which requires tetrazole functionalisation of the nanoparticulate building units. A major development in this work that permitted this gelation approach for silica-QDs was the development of a novel tetrazole-silane ligand. TMSPAMTz was specifically designed to bind to the silica surface of silica-QDs in aqueous solution and was prepared by a covalent coupling of an alkyl chained silane with a 5-subsituted tetrazole ring. Network formation is subsequently achieved by the interconnection of negatively charged tetrazole rings with metal ions, which allows for a broad spectrum of aerogel materials from different NP species as well as their mixtures as long as tetrazole capping is provided. Considering this diversity and the disabling of energy transfers, straightforward colour tuning was demonstrated herein by mixing differently emitting silica-QD species which gives great prospects for lighting applications. Furthermore, the possibility of plasmon enhanced emission was presented for mixed Au NP/silica-QD gels. With respect to future sensing applications, thin porous films from silica-QDs gels were prepared, which showed a promising concentration dependant PL quenching for the model analyst hydrogen peroxide. However, the film reproducibility of the applied drop-cast coating method was insufficient. As a suggestion to this, a LbL method was presented, wherein a gel is subsequently grown with the metal ion assisted complexation approach. In addition to the tetrazole ligands on the NP surface, tetrazole-silane ligands were used in this approach to functionalise the glass substrate surface. By this, homogeneous gel films of distinct thickness can be grown while the use of organic polymers can be completely avoided. Besides the preparation of NP assemblies, standard Cd-based QD materials as well as Au NPs of different sizes and shape, recent progresses in the synthesis of InP-based QDs were presented in this work. A thorough investigation and understanding of the growth influencing parameters allowed for the establishment of preparation routes for In(Zn)P/GaP/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs with emission wavelengths tuneable within a large range from 500 to 650 nm, narrow peak widths of 45 to 70 nm and PL QYs up to 60%. Successful incorporation of these QDs into salt matrices was further demonstrated. The resulting composite materials are very photostable and suitable as colour conversion materials for solid state lighting, as was clearly pointed out by a self-prepared WLED that met the standard commercial LEDs.

The feasibility of the QD-Flash concept, its fast write and erase times, is demonstrated together with storage times of 4 days at room temperature. The storage time of holes in (InGa)Sb QDs embedded in a (AlGa)P matrix can be extended by growth modifications to 10 y. Tunneling structures were recently demonstrated to solve the trade-off conflict between storage time and erase time. A QD-NVSRAM is suggested to become the first commercial application.

Nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention during the past decades due to their unique and fascinating properties. However, this class of materials is not an invention of modern age. People have been using nanomaterials for centuries, although unwittingly. Probably the most famous example for the usage of nanomaterials in ancient times is the Lycurgus Cup, a Roman glass cage cup created in the 4th century which changes the colour of its glass from green to ruby depending on the illumination conditions. The foundation for the development of the field of nanotechnology was laid by the speech of Feynman “There is plenty of room at the bottom” in 1959, in which he spoke about the principles of miniaturisation as low as to the atomic level. Today, modern nanotechnology made it its business to purposefully develop and synthesise nanomaterials as well as to face their applications in various fields, such as microelectronics, catalysis or biomedicine. However, the term “nanomaterials” does not solely involve the nanoparticulate units itself, but also their arrangement into two- or three-dimensional structures. Thereby, the maintenance of the nanoscale properties is one of the main challenges. This task was focussed by this work implied the preparation and macroscale arrangement of fluorescent QDs while preserving their optical properties. The main achievement of this work was the development of a novel aerogel material with non-quenching PL behaviour by using silica coated QDs as nanoparticulate building units. In comparison to other monolithic silica-QD structures or aerogels from pure QDs, a defined and controllable distance between the fluorescent QDs is provided in these structures by the silica shell. The spacing was shown to efficiently disable energy transfers so that no spectral shifts, lifetime shortening or PL QY losses are observed during the colloid to gel transition. The silica shell, established by a standard reverse microemulsion approach, was found to exhibit a certain porosity, which was proven by gas adsorption measurements. Existing cavities in the micro- and mesoporous range were found to allow small species such as metal ions to pass through the shell and interact with the QD core causing a detectable change of the PL intensity, which makes these materials suitable for future sensing applications. The gel preparation was based on a metal ion assisted complexation approach, which requires tetrazole functionalisation of the nanoparticulate building units. A major development in this work that permitted this gelation approach for silica-QDs was the development of a novel tetrazole-silane ligand. TMSPAMTz was specifically designed to bind to the silica surface of silica-QDs in aqueous solution and was prepared by a covalent coupling of an alkyl chained silane with a 5-subsituted tetrazole ring. Network formation is subsequently achieved by the interconnection of negatively charged tetrazole rings with metal ions, which allows for a broad spectrum of aerogel materials from different NP species as well as their mixtures as long as tetrazole capping is provided. Considering this diversity and the disabling of energy transfers, straightforward colour tuning was demonstrated herein by mixing differently emitting silica-QD species which gives great prospects for lighting applications. Furthermore, the possibility of plasmon enhanced emission was presented for mixed Au NP/silica-QD gels. With respect to future sensing applications, thin porous films from silica-QDs gels were prepared, which showed a promising concentration dependant PL quenching for the model analyst hydrogen peroxide. However, the film reproducibility of the applied drop-cast coating method was insufficient. As a suggestion to this, a LbL method was presented, wherein a gel is subsequently grown with the metal ion assisted complexation approach. In addition to the tetrazole ligands on the NP surface, tetrazole-silane ligands were used in this approach to functionalise the glass substrate surface. By this, homogeneous gel films of distinct thickness can be grown while the use of organic polymers can be completely avoided. Besides the preparation of NP assemblies, standard Cd-based QD materials as well as Au NPs of different sizes and shape, recent progresses in the synthesis of InP-based QDs were presented in this work. A thorough investigation and understanding of the growth influencing parameters allowed for the establishment of preparation routes for In(Zn)P/GaP/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs with emission wavelengths tuneable within a large range from 500 to 650 nm, narrow peak widths of 45 to 70 nm and PL QYs up to 60%. Successful incorporation of these QDs into salt matrices was further demonstrated. The resulting composite materials are very photostable and suitable as colour conversion materials for solid state lighting, as was clearly pointed out by a self-prepared WLED that met the standard commercial LEDs.

Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)arsane (1) is introduced as an low-cost and convenient to handle arsenic precursor for the straight forward synthesis of InAs quantum dots (QDs). Transamination of 1 with the solvent oleylamine (OLAH) gives trioleylarsane (As(OLA)3) which in the presence of the reducing agents DIBAL-H or P(OLA)3 yields InAs QDs via a typical hot injection approach. The size of the obtained InAs core QDs are tuned by varying the reaction time, the amount of the applied reducing agent, or even more effectively by changing the indium and/or zinc halide precursors, InX3 and ZnX2 (Cl, Br, or I). Passivation of the resulting InAs particles with a protective ZnS or ZnSe shell results in improved photoluminescence (PL) of the core/shell QDs covering a spectral range between 600–1150 nm.

Tri(pyrazolyl)phosphane (5R1,R2) werden als alternative, kostengünstige und geringer toxische Phosphorpräkursoren in der Synthese von InP/ZnS Quantenpunkten (QP) eingesetzt. Ausgehend von diesen Vorläuferverbindungen konnten langzeitstabile (>6 Monate) P(OLA)3 (OLAH = Oleylamin) Stammlösungen synthetisiert werden, aus denen sich die entsprechenden Pyrazole einfach zurückgewinnen lassen. P(OLA)3 fungiert in der Synthese von hochemittierenden InP/ZnS QP sowohl als Phosphorquelle als auch als Reduktionsmittel. Die erhaltenen Kern/Schale-Partikel zeichnen sich durch hohe Photolumineszenz-Quantenausbeuten (PL-QA) von 51–62% in einem spektralen Bereich von 530–620 nm aus. Die Verarbeitung und Anwendung dieser InP/ZnS QP als Farbkonversionsschicht wurde als „proof-of-concept“ in einer weißen Leuchtdiode (LED) demonstriert