Luminescent properties of CdS nanoclusters dispersed in solution-Effects of size and surface termination

Steady-state and ultrafast transient luminescent properties of CdS nanoclusters prepared by the Aerosol-OT (AOT)/n-heptane reverse micelle method and those modified with 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate were investigated in heptane and water, respectively. A very short luminescence component (∼200 fs) was observed for the first time for CdS nanoclusters dispersed in solution. The luminescence mechanism of CdS nanoclusters is proposed.