Perfluoroether-stabilized quantum dots

A composite particle comprising a fluorescent core/shell nanoparticle and a fluoroether ligand bound to the surface of the nanoparticle of the formula:

• Rf—[X1—R2—X2—R3(L)n]m
• wherein
• Rf is a perfluoroether group,
• R2 is a hydrocarbyl group including alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene;
• R3 is a hydrocarbyl group including alkylene, arylene, alkarylene and aralkylene;
• X1 is —CH2—O—, —O—, —S—, —CO2—, —CONR1—, or —SO2NR1− where R1 is H or C1-C4 alkyl;
• X2 is a covalent bond, —S—, —O— or —NR1—, —CO2—, —CONR1—, or —SO2NR1− where R1 is H or C1-C4 alkyl;
• n at least one;
• m is 1 or 2
• L is an ligand group selected from —CO2H, —SH, —P(O)(OH)2, —P(O)OH, —NH2—OH, and —SO3H.