were taken using
a Varian model Cary wins Bio 100 spectrometer in the range of 200–800
nm. The fluorescence emission spectra were recorded using the Fluoro
Max-4C spectrofluorometer (Horiba Instruments, USA). The slits for
excitation and emission were set at 5 nm. Lifetime analysis was measured
using time-correlated single photon counting with a pulse width of
1.3 ns. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images
were recorded on a JEOL JEM 2100 instrument with an acceleration voltage
of 200 kV. An Omicron ESCA Probe spectrometer with unmonochromatized
Mg Kα X-rays was used for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
analysis. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were recorded
using a PerkinElmer FTIR spectrometer. Thermal transition measurements
were done using a TA Q100-DSC thermal analyzer (TA Instruments, New
Castle, Delaware 19720 USA).