Issue 37, 2016

Greatly decreased redshift and largely enhanced refractive index of mono-dispersed ZnO-QD/silicone nanocomposites

Abstract

The luminescence behavior of quantum dots (QDs) has been demonstrated to be size-dependent and the alternation of surroundings from solvent to matrix normally leads to large redshifts due to the unavoidable occurrence of QD aggregates, which is detrimental to the successful application of QDs in light emitting devices (LEDs). In this study, a simple solvent mixing method is demonstrated for the fabrication of transparent silicone nanocomposites with greatly decreased redshift and largely enhanced refractive index. By silane surface modification of the ZnO-QDs, the dispersion of QDs in the silicone resin can be well controlled and the emission wavelength of the QDs can be nearly precisely determined with a maximum redshift of 4 nm from ethanol solvent to silicone resin matrix. Compared to the un-modified ZnO QD case, the redshifts have been dramatically decreased. In addition, the as-fabricated ZnO-QD/silicone nanocomposites exhibit a high visible light transparency while the diameter of ZnO-QDs varies from 1.8 nm to 4.5 nm. Moreover, by the incorporation of ZnO-QDs at a low content up to 1.0 wt%, the refractive index of the silicone resin is largely enhanced from 1.42 to 1.56. The current methodology is quality-controllable, cost-effective and environment-friendly and thus is applicable for the massive application of QD/silicone nanocomposites in LEDs.

Graphical abstract: Greatly decreased redshift and largely enhanced refractive index of mono-dispersed ZnO-QD/silicone nanocomposites

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 May 2016
Accepted
09 Aug 2016
First published
09 Aug 2016

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016,4, 8663-8669

Author version available

Greatly decreased redshift and largely enhanced refractive index of mono-dispersed ZnO-QD/silicone nanocomposites

P. Huang, H. Shi, S. Fu, H. Xiao, N. Hu and Y. Li, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2016, 4, 8663 DOI: 10.1039/C6TC02047J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements