Non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot and method of carrying out chemical reaction or photoluminescence reaction by using the same

Abstract

A non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot is provided with a non-metallic substrate, and has a particle size ranged from 0.3 to 100 nm. A method of carrying out a chemical reaction or a photoluminescence reaction by using the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot is also provided. A redox reaction of a target sample is carried out, an active substance is generated, or an electron-hole pair is produced from the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot by providing the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot with a predetermined energy. Photons are released by the combination of the electron-hole pair so as to perform the photoluminescence reaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot, comprising a non-metallic substrate, and having a particle size ranged from 0.3 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         2 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic substrate is made of a group IVA element. 
     
     
         3 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 2 , wherein the non-metallic substrate is a carbon-based material or a silicon-based material. 
     
     
         4 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 3 , wherein the carbon-based material is graphene or graphene oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot comprises at least one dopant. 
     
     
         6 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 5 , wherein the dopant is selected from at least one of group IIIA element, group IVA element, group VA element, group VIA element, and transition element having an empty d orbital. 
     
     
         7 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 6 , wherein the dopant is O, N, P, B, Fe, Co, or Ni. 
     
     
         8 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 5 , wherein the dopant has a doping ratio more than 0 mol % and less than 50 mol %. 
     
     
         9 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot is disc-shaped, and has a thickness ranged from 0.1 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic substrate has a surface with at least one functional group selected from H, a group-VA-element functional group, or a group-VIA-element functional group. 
     
     
         11 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 10 , wherein the group-VA-element functional group is an amino group, P, or a phosphate group. 
     
     
         12 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 10 , wherein the group-VIA-element functional group is hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, or acyl. 
     
     
         13 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot generates electron-hole pairs or redox pairs by receiving a predetermined energy, so as to catalyze a redox reaction or to release photons by combining the electron-hole pairs to perform a photoluminescence reaction. 
     
     
         14 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined energy is electromagnetic energy, light, electricity, heat, magnetic energy or ultrasound. 
     
     
         15 . The non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 13 , wherein the photoluminescence reaction releases a light having a wavelength ranged from 250 nm to 1600 nm. 
     
     
         16 . A method of carrying out a chemical reaction by using a non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot, comprising steps of:
 (1) mixing a target sample with the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1 ; and   (2) providing the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot with a predetermined energy, so that the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot generates electron-hole pairs, and a redox reaction of the target sample is carried out by the electron-hole pairs; or the target sample or a surrounding molecule thereof generates an active substance, and a redox reaction of the target sample is carried out by the active substance.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined energy is provided by a laser, a mercury lamp, a visible light, an ultraviolet light, an infrared light, an endoscopic light, an X-ray, an ultrasound, an electric field, a magnetic field, a nuclear magnetic resonance, or a light-emitting diode in the step (2). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the redox reaction in the step (2) comprises decomposition of the target sample, polymerization of the target sample, activation of the target sample, or deactivation of the target sample. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the active substance is a free radical or a peroxide. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the free radical is O 2 . or OH.; and the peroxide is H 2 O 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the target sample is selected from biological cells, bacteria, viruses, parasites, cell secretions, biological molecules, an organic compound, or an inorganic compound. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the organic compound is an aromatic compound, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, acid, amine, urea, or a polymer thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the inorganic compound is water, nitrite, nitrate or ammonia. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the biological molecules are peptides, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, hormones, or a polymer thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the cell secretions are extracellular vesicles or extracellular matrix. 
     
     
         26 . A method of carrying out a photoluminescence reaction by using a non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot, comprising steps of:
 (1) delivering the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot according to  claim 1  to a predetermined position; and   (2) providing the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot with a predetermined energy, so that the non-metallic semiconductor quantum dot generates electron-hole pairs, and releases photons by combining the electron-hole pairs to perform the photoluminescence reaction.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined energy is provided by a laser, a mercury lamp, a visible light, an ultraviolet light, an infrared light, an endoscopic light, an X-ray, an ultrasound, an electric field, a magnetic field, a nuclear magnetic resonance, or a light-emitting diode in the step (2). 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the photoluminescence reaction has a wavelength ranged from 250 nm to 1600 nm. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the method comprises a step (3) of using the photoluminescence reaction as a signal source after the step (2).