Compositions, optical component, system including an optical component, devices, and other products
A composition useful for altering the wavelength of visible or invisible light is disclosed. The composition comprising a solid host material and quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are included in the composition in amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent based on the weight of the host material. The composition can further include scatterers. An optical component including a waveguide component and quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles is also disclosed. A device including an optical component is disclosed. A system including an optical component including a waveguide component and quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and a light source optically coupled to the waveguide component is also disclosed. A decal, kit, ink composition, and method are also disclosed. A TFEL including quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles on a surface thereof is also disclosed.
1. An optical component including:
a waveguide that receives light along an edge of the waveguide; and
a layer on a major surface of the waveguide that receives light from the waveguide, the layer comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and a host material, wherein the layer includes from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles based on the weight of the host material, wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are selected to emit two or more different predetermined wavelengths for a desired light output when excited by optical energy from one or more light sources, and wherein the layer further comprises non-luminescent scatterers, wherein the scatterers increase absorption pathlength of excitation light used to excite the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles in the host material and aid in out-coupling of light down-converted by the nanoparticles, and wherein the scatterers are included in the layer in an amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent of the weight of the host material.
2. An optical component including a waveguide including an emissive layer disposed over a surface of the waveguide, the emissive layer comprising a composition including quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and a host material, wherein the emissive layer includes from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles based on the weight of the host material, and a separate layer including scatterers disposed under the emissive layer and a filter on a top surface of the layers opposite the waveguide.
3. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein another separate layer including scatterers is disposed over the emissive layer.
4. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are selected to emit two or more different predetermined wavelengths for a desired light output when excited by optical energy from one or more light sources.
5. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are microencapsulated in microcapsules which are distributed throughout the host material.
6. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein the scatterers are non-luminescent scatterers.
7. An optical component in accordance with claim 2 wherein the composition further includes non-luminescent scatterers, wherein the non-luminescent scatterers increase absorption pathlength of excitation light used to excite the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles in the emissive layer and aid in out-coupling of light down-converted by the nanoparticles.
8. An optical component in accordance with claim 7 wherein the non-luminescent scatterers are included in the composition in amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent based on the weight of the host material.
9. An optical component in accordance with claim 7 wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles include a ligand on a surface thereof wherein the ligand has an affinity for the host material.
10. A film comprising a carrier substrate comprising a flexible component including a predetermined arrangement comprising a composition including quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles disposed over a predetermined portion of a surface thereof, wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles absorb at least a portion of impinging light and reemit at least a portion of the absorbed light energy as one or more photons of a predetermined wavelength(s), and wherein the composition further includes a host material, the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are microencapsulated in microcapsules distributed throughout the host material, and the nanoparticles are included in the composition in an amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent based on the weight of the host material, and at least one of a separate layer including scatterers disposed over the predetermined arrangement and a separate layer including scatterers disposed under the predetermined arrangement.
11. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the carrier substrate comprises a substantially optically transparent material.
12. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the separate layer comprising scatterers is disposed over the predetermined arrangement.
13. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the separate layer comprising scatterers is disposed under the predetermined arrangement.
14. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the optical component includes two separate layers including scatterers, the first being disposed over the predetermined arrangement and the second being disposed under the predetermined arrangement.
15. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are selected to emit two or more different predetermined wavelengths for a desired light output when excited by optical energy from one or more light sources.
16. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the scatterers are non-luminescent scatterers.
17. A film in accordance with claim 10 wherein the composition further comprises non-luminescent scatterers, wherein the non-luminescent scatterers increase absorption pathlength of excitation light used to excite the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles in the film and aid in out-coupling of light down-converted by the nanoparticles.
18. A film in accordance with claim 17 wherein the non-luminescent scatterers are included in the composition in amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent based on the weight of the host material.
19. An optical component including:
a waveguide;
a structural member comprising a prism that receives light from a light source; and
a layer comprising quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and a host material,
wherein the structural member comprising a prism and the layer are disposed on a major surface of the waveguide, the structural member is configured to position the light source at such an angle that the light is coupled into the major surface of the waveguide, and wherein the layer receives light from the waveguide, wherein the layer includes from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles based on the weight of the host material, wherein the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles are selected to emit two or more different predetermined wavelengths for a desired light output when excited by optical energy from one or more light sources, and wherein the layer further comprises non-luminescent scatterers, wherein the scatterers increase absorption pathlength of excitation light used to excite the quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles in the host material and aid in out-coupling of light down-converted by the nanoparticles, and wherein the scatterers are included in the layer in an amount in the range from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent of the weight of the host material.
20. An optical component including a waveguide that receives light along an edge of the waveguide; and
an emissive layer on a major surface of the waveguide that receives light from the waveguide, the emissive layer comprising a composition including quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles and a host material, wherein the emissive layer includes from about 0.001 to about 15 weight percent quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles based on the weight of the host material, and at least one of a separate layer including scatterers disposed over the emissive layer and a separate layer including scatterers disposed under the emissive layer and a filter on a top surface of the layers opposite the waveguide.