POWDERED QUANTUM DOTS
Powdered quantum dots that can be dispersed into a silicone layer are provided. The powdered quantum dots are a plurality of quantum dot particles, preferably on the micron or nanometer scale. The powdered quantum dots can include quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes or quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes. The powdered quantum dots can included quantum dot particles coated with a dielectric layer.
1 . A quantum dot particle on the micron or nanometer scale comprising a plurality of quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes, wherein each quantum dot-dielectric particle complex comprises:
a plurality of quantum dots and a dielectric particles on the micron or nanometer scale,
wherein the plurality of quantum dot complexes are absorbed onto the surface of the dielectric particles,
wherein the plurality of quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes form an aggregate on the micron or nanometer scale.
2 . The quantum dot particle of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot particle has a diameter between about 20 nanometers and about 100 microns.
3 . Powdered quantum dots comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 1 .
4 . The quantum dot particle of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric particles are selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, colloidal silica, and alumina nanoxide powder.
5 . An optoelectronic devices comprising a composite comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 1 dispersed in a silicone material.
6 . A photoluminescent device comprising a composite comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 1 dispersed in a silicone material.
7 . The quantum dot particle of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot comprises a core fabricated from a semiconductor material and a shell at least partially overcoating the core, the shell fabricated from a semiconductor material.
8 . The quantum dot particle of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot comprises a core fabricated from a semiconductor material, a metal layer formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the core, and a shell at least partially overcoating the metal layer, the shell fabricated from a semiconductor material.
9 . A method of making a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 1 comprising:
(a) providing a dispersion of quantum dots and dielectric nano- or micro-particles in a solvent to form aggregates of a plurality of quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes, each of the plurality of quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes comprising a plurality of quantum dots absorbed onto the surface of a dielectric particle; and
(b) separating the aggregates of the plurality of quantum dot-dielectric particle complexes from the solvent.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein step (b) comprises subjecting the dispersion from step (a) to a solid-liquid separation process to isolate the aggregates.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising breaking down the aggregates to particles on the nanometer or micron scale.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein step (a) comprises mixing the quantum dots with the dispersion to form the aggregates.
13 . A quantum dot particle on the micron or nanometer scale comprising:
a quantum dot-crosslinked silane complex, wherein a plurality of quantum dots are dispersed in a crosslinked silane matrix to form the complex, and wherein the complex is a particle on the micron or nanometer scale.
14 . The quantum dot particle of claim 13 , wherein the quantum dot particle has a diameter between about 20 nanometers and about 100 microns.
15 . Powdered quantum dots comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 13 .
16 . The quantum dot particle of claim 1 , wherein the silane is 3-amino propyl trimethoxysilane or 3-mercapto propyl trimethoxysilane.
17 . An optoelectronic devices comprising a composite comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 13 dispersed in a silicone material.
18 . A photoluminescent device comprising a composite comprising a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 13 dispersed in a silicone material.
19 . A method of making a plurality of the quantum dot particles of claim 13 comprising:
(a) providing quantum dots, each quantum dot having surfactant attached to the outer surface;
(b) displacing the surfactant on the outer surfaces of the quantum dots with a silane, wherein the silane is in a solution;
(c) cross-linking the silane on the quantum dots and the silane in the solution to form a plurality of quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes, each of the plurality of quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes comprising a plurality of quantum dots dispersed in a crosslinked silane matrix; and
(d) separating the plurality of quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes from the solution.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein step (d) comprises subjecting the dispersion from step (c) to a solid-liquid separation process to isolate the quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes.
21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising breaking down the quantum dot-crosslinked silane complexes to particles on the nanometer or micron scale.