Different types of cyclodextrins (CDs) have been tested as mediators for the water phase transfer of organic-capped CdS nanocrystals (NCs), and
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CD has been demonstrated to be the most effective system. The formationof a complex based on
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CDs and colloidal NCs has been considered to be responsible for the phase transferprocess and extensively investigated by optical, structural, and calorimetric measurements, as a function ofthe experimental parameters (pH and NC and CD concentration). A mechanism for the complexationphenomena has been suggested. The fabrication of 2/3 D supramolecular architectures has been proposedaccording to two different strategies. First, a layer-by-layer procedure has been used to obtain multilayeredstructures where polyelectrolyte layers have been intercalated with negatively charged
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CD-CdS NCcomplexes by exploiting electrostatic interaction between polyelectrolyte and cyclodextrin OH groups. Second,a monolayer of CdS NCs has been deposited onto a self-assembled monolayer of sulfated CDs, thus combiningthe use of an electrostatic-force-based approach and host-guest chemistry. The important role played byhost-guest interactions has then been revealed.