Layered materials including nanoparticles

1. A composition comprising:

a matrix material and a plurality of nanoparticles phase separated from the matrix material, wherein the matrix material and the nanoparticles are chemically dissimilar, and wherein the matrix material and the nanoparticles are soluble in a mutual solvent.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the matrix material forms a layer.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the layer of matrix material is discontinuous.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles form a layer contacting the matrix material.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the layer of nanoparticles is discontinuous.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles is a plurality of semiconductor nanoparticles.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles is a plurality of metallic nanoparticles.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles is a plurality of ceramic nanoparticles.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the layer of nanoparticles is a monolayer.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the matrix material is non-polymeric.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein each nanoparticle has a ligand bonded to a surface of the nanoparticle having the formula:

wherein k is 2, 3 or 5, and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 such that k-n is not less than zero; X is O, S, S═O, SO 2 , Se, Se=O, N,N=O, P, P=O, As, or As=O; each of Y and L, independently, is aryl, heteroaryl, or a straight or branched C 2-12 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one double bond, at least one triple bond, or at least one double bond and one triple bond, the hydrocarbon chain being optionally substituted with one or more C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, C 2-4 alkynyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, hydroxyl, halo, amino, nitro, cyano, C 3-5 cycloalkyl, 3-5 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, or formyl and the hydrocarbon chain being optionally interrupted by —O—, —S—, —N(R a )—, —N(R a )—C(O)—O—, —O—C(O)—N(R a )—, —N(R a )—C(O)—N(R b )—, —O—C(O)—O—, —P(R a )—, or P(O)(R a )—; and each of R a and R b , independently, is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroxylalkyl, hydroxyl, or haloalkyl.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the matrix material includes an aromatic moiety.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein each nanoparticle has a ligand bonded to a surface of the nanoparticle, the ligand including an aliphatic moiety.

14. A composition comprising:

a matrix material and a plurality of nanoparticles phase separated from the matrix material, wherein the composition includes a structure comprising at least a portion of the nanoparticles on the matrix material.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the structure includes a nanocrystal island on the matrix material.