Highly
Fluorescent and Stable Quantum Dot-Polymer-Layered
Double Hydroxide Composites
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Abstract
We
report a designed strategy for a synthesis of highly luminescent
and photostable composites by incorporating quantum dots (QDs) into
layered double hydroxide (LDH) matrices without deterioration of a
photoluminescence (PL) efficiency of the fluorophores during the entire
processes of composite formations. The QDs synthesized in an organic
solvent are encapsulated by polymers, poly(maleic acid-alt-octadecene)
to transfer them into water without altering the initial surface ligands.
The polymer-encapsulated QDs with negative zeta potentials (−29.5
± 2.2 mV) were electrostatically assembled with positively charged
(24.9 ± 0.6 mV) LDH nanosheets to form QD-polymer-LDH composites
(PL quantum yield: 74.1%). QD-polymer-LDH composite films are fabricated
by a drop-casting of the solution on substrates. The PL properties
of the films preserve those of the organic QD solutions. We also demonstrate
that the formation of the QD-polymer-LDH composites affords enhanced
photostabilities through multiple protections of QD surface by polymers
and LDH nanosheets from the environment