Development of Quantum Dot (QD) Based Color Converters for Multicolor Display.

Many displays involve the use of color conversion layers. QDs are attractive candidates as color converters because of their easy processability, tuneable optical properties, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and good stability. Here, we show that emissive QDs with narrow emission range can be made in-situ in a polymer matrix, with properties useful for color conversion. This was achieved by blending the blue-emitting pyridine based polymer with a cadmium selenide precursor and baking their films at different temperatures. To achieve efficient color conversion, blend ratio and baking temperature/time were varied. We found that thermal decomposition of the precursor leads to highly emissive QDs whose final size and emission can be controlled using baking temperature/time. The formation of the QDs inside the polymer matrix was confirmed through morphological studies using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hence, our approach provides a cost-effective route to making highly emissive color converters for multi-color displays

Photophysical and structural characterisation of in situ formed quantum dots

Conjugated polymer–semiconductor quantum dot (QD) composites are attracting increasing attention due to the complementary properties of the two classes of materials. We report a convenient method for in situ formation of QDs, and explore the conditions required for light emission of nanocomposite blends. In particular we explore the properties of nanocomposites of the blue emitting polymer poly[9,9-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-9H-fluorene] together with cadmium sulphide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) precursors. We show the formation of emissive quantum dots of CdSe from thermally decomposed precursor. The dots are formed inside the polymer matrix and have a photoluminescence quantum yield of 7.5%. Our results show the importance of appropriate energy level alignment, and are relevant to the application of organic–inorganic systems in optoelectronic devices

Highly luminescent colloidal CdS quantum dots with efficient near-infrared electroluminescence in light-emitting diodes

We acknowledge financial support from FP7 project “Laser Induced Synthesis of Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials and Development of Micro-Patterned Hybrid Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Transistors (LET)”-LAMP (Project G.A.247928). A.K.B. and I.D.W.S. also acknowledge financial support from EPSRC Programme “Challenging the Limits of Photonics: Structured Light” Grant EP/J01771X/1.Quantum dots are of growing interest as emissive materials in light emitting devices. Here first we report the formation of highly luminescent organic capped colloidal cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles having the highest photoluminescence quantum yield of 69% in solutions and 34% in neat thin films in the near-infrared range. Second, we also show efficient electroluminescence in the near-infrared from solution processed hybrid light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on such colloidal CdS quantum dots embedded in an organic semiconductor matrix forming a nanocomposite active layer. We also discuss the device structure and role of the doped active layer in efficiency improvement. With optimized active layer thickness and concentration of QDs, the device exhibits an external electroluminescence quantum efficiency of 0.62% at a peak emission wavelength of 760 nm, providing a route to solution processable flexible light sources for biosensors and medicine.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Photophysical and structural characterisation of in situ formed quantum dots

The authors acknowledge financial support from FP7 project “Laser Induced Synthesis of Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials and Development of Micro-patterned Hybrid Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Transistors (LET)” – LAMP project (G.A. 247928). AKB and IDWS also acknowledge financial support from EPSRC Programme grant “Challenging the limits of photonics: Structured light” EP/J01771X/1.Conjugated polymer-semiconductor quantum dot (QD) composites are attracting increasing attention due to the complementary properties of the two classes of materials. We report a convenient method for in situ formation of QDs, and explore the conditions required for light emission of nanocomposite blends. In particular we explore the properties of nanocomposites of the blue emitting polymer poly[9,9-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-9H-fluorene] together with cadmium sulphide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) precursors. We show the formation of emissive quantum dots of CdSe from thermally decomposed precursor. The dots are formed inside the polymer matrix and have a photoluminescence quantum yield of 7.5%. Our results show the importance of appropriate energy level alignment, and are relevant to the application of organic-inorganic systems in optoelectronic devices.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Polymer Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Applications

In the present comprehensive review we have specifically focused on polymer nanocomposites used as photocatalytic materials in fine organic reactions or in organic pollutants degradation. The selection of the polymer substrates for the immobilization of the active catalyst particles is motivated by several advantages displayed by them, such as: Environmental stability, chemical inertness and resistance to ultraviolet radiations, mechanical stability, low prices and ease availability. Additionally, the use of polymer nanocomposites as photocatalysts offers the possibility of a facile separation and reuse of the materials, eliminating thus the post-treatment separation processes and implicitly reducing the costs of the procedure. This review covers the polymer-based photocatalytic materials containing the most popular inorganic nanoparticles with good catalytic performance under UV or visible light, namely TiO2, ZnO, CeO2, or plasmonic (Ag, Au, Pt, Pd) NPs. The study is mainly targeted on the preparation, photocatalytic activity, strategies directed toward the increase of photocatalytic efficiency under visible light and reuse of the hybrid polymer catalysts

Time and Temperature Dependence of CdS Nanoparticles Grown in a Polystyrene Matrix

Luminescent CdS nanocrystals embedded in a polystyrene matrix were successfully prepared. The in situ growth of CdS QDs was realized by thermal treatment of Cd bis(thiolate)/polymer foil at different times and temperatures (240°C and 300°C) of annealing, in order to evaluate their influence on the quantum dots growth process. As a general trend, the increasing of time and temperature of annealing induces a rise of the CdS nanocrystals size into the polymeric matrix. The size distribution, morphology, and structure of the CdS nanoparticles were analysed with HRTEM and XRD experiments. UV-Vis and PL data are strongly size-dependent and were used to investigate the particles' growth process, too. The CdS nanoparticles behavior in solution indicated a general trend of QDs to aggregation. This predisposition was clearly displayed by DLS measurements

Development of Quantum Dots (QD) based color converters for multicolor display

Funding: This research was funded by European commission under FP7 LAMP project “Laser Induced Synthesis of Polymeric Nanocomposite Materials and Development of Micro-patterned Hybrid Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Transistors (LET)” (Grant No. 247928)Many displays involve the use of color conversion layers. QDs are attractive candidates as color converters because of their easy processability, tuneable optical properties, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and good stability. Here, we show that emissive QDs with narrow emission range can be made in-situ in a polymer matrix, with properties useful for color conversion. This was achieved by blending the blue-emitting pyridine based polymer with a cadmium selenide precursor and baking their films at different temperatures. To achieve efficient color conversion, blend ratio and baking temperature/time were varied. We found that thermal decomposition of the precursor leads to highly emissive QDs whose final size and emission can be controlled using baking temperature/time. The formation of the QDs inside the polymer matrix was confirmed through morphological studies using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hence, our approach provides a cost-effective route to making highly emissive color converters for multi-color displays.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe