Quantum dot-polymer micronized composite, production method thereof, and article and electronic device including the same

1. A quantum dot-polymer micronized composite comprising

a first polymer matrix; and

a plurality of quantum dots dispersed in the first polymer matrix;

wherein the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite comprises at least one additive selected from a clay particle embedded in the first polymer matrix and a metal halide dispersed in the first polymer matrix, and

wherein the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite has an average particle size of less than or equal to about 100 micrometers.

2. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix comprises a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylate salt, a polymethacrylic acid, a polymethacrylate salt, a polyolefin, a polystyrene, a poly(alkylene-co-acrylic acid), a poly(alkylene-co-acrylate salt), a poly(alkylene-co-methacrylic acid), a poly(alkylene-co-methacrylate salt), a poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid), a poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid), a poly(styrene-co-thiol-terminated ethylene), a thiol-ene polymer, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyisocyanate, a polythiol, a polyester, or a combination thereof.

3. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the first polymer matrix comprises a polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with a quantum dot of the plurality of quantum dots.

4. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 3 , wherein the functional group is selected from

a —COOR group, wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a —RCOOR′ group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C20 alkenyl group,

a substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C20 alkynyl group,

a halide moiety,

an —ROR′ group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a RCOX group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and X is F, Cl, Br, or I,

a —CONRR′ group, wherein R and R′ are each independently a hydrogen, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a —NRR′ group, wherein R and R′ are each independently a hydrogen or a monovalent organic functional group,

a —N(R′)— group, wherein R′ is a hydrogen, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a —C(═O)NC(═O)— group,

a —N═C═O group,

a —OC(═O)—C(H)═CH 2 group,

a —OC(═O)—C(CH 3 )═CH 2 group,

a —SH group,

a —P(═O)R′R″ group, wherein R′ and R″ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a —SO 3 R′ group, wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion,

a —NO 2 group,

or a combination thereof.

5. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein a quantum dot of the plurality of quantum dots comprises a Group II-VI compound, a Group III-V compound, a Group IV-VI compound, a Group IV element or compound, a Group I-IV compound, a Group compound, a Group I-II-IV-IV compound, or a combination thereof.

6. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite comprises the clay particle, and wherein the clay particle has a planate surface, an average thickness of less than or equal to about 10 nanometers, and a lateral size of about 50 nanometers to about 10 micrometers.

7. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the clay particle is modified with an organic compound having a heteroatom and a hydrocarbyl group linked to the heteroatom.

8. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 7 , wherein the organic compound is selected from an amine, an ammonium salt, a phosphine, a phosphonium salt, an amine group-containing thiol, a mercapto group-containing silane, or a combination thereof.

9. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 7 , wherein the organic compound comprises an amine compound having at least one substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C20 hydrocarbyl linked to a nitrogen atom, a quaternary ammonium salt compound having at least one substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C20 hydrocarbyl linked to a nitrogen atom, a phosphine compound having at least one substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C20 hydrocarbyl linked to a phosphorus atom, a phosphonium salt compound having at least one substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C20 hydrocarbyl linked to a phosphorus atom, a mercaptan compound having at least one C6 to C20 hydrocarbyl having an amine group, an alkoxysilane compound having a mercaptoalkyl group, or a combination thereof.

10. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite comprises the clay particle, and wherein the clay particle comprises smectite, mica, vermiculite, montmorillonite, iron-containing montmorillonite, beidellite, saponite, hectorite, stibensite, nontronite, anionic, zirconium phosphate, kaolinite, atapulgite, illite, halloysite, diatomaceous earth, fuller's earth, calcined aluminium silicate, hydrated aluminium silicate, magnesium aluminium silicate, sodium silicate, magnesium silicate, or a combination thereof.

11. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein an amount of the additive is about 1 part by weight to about 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the first polymer matrix.

12. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein in the composite, a planate surface of at least two clay particles face each other, and the plurality of quantum dots dispersed in the first polymer matrix are disposed between the at least two clay particles.

13. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite comprises the metal halide, and wherein the metal halide comprises an alkali metal, an alkaline-earth metal, or a transition metal and a fluoride, a chloride, a bromide, or an iodide.

14. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite further comprises a polymer overcoating disposed on at least part of a surface thereof.

15. The quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite further comprises a hydrocarbyl chloride.

16. An article comprising

a second polymer matrix; and

the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 dispersed in the second polymer matrix.

17. The article of claim 16 , wherein the second polymer matrix comprises a silicone resin; an epoxy resin; a poly(meth)acrylate; an organic/inorganic hybrid polymer; a polycarbonate; a polystyrene; a polyolefin; a thiol-ene polymer; or a combination thereof.

18. The article of claim 16 , wherein the article has a film shape.

19. A method of producing the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 3 , comprising

dissolving a polymer having a functional group capable of reacting with the plurality of quantum dots in a first organic solvent under an inert atmosphere to prepare a polymer solution;

adding the plurality of quantum dots and at least one additive selected from a clay particle and a metal halide to the polymer solution to obtain a mixture;

heating the mixture to perform a reaction between the plurality of quantum dots and the polymer;

forming a precipitate from the mixture; and

separating the formed precipitate.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the polymer comprises a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylate salt, a polymethacrylic acid, a polymethacrylate salt, a polyolefin, a polystyrene, a poly(alkylene-co-acrylic acid), a poly(alkylene-co-acrylate salt), a poly(alkylene-co-methacrylic acid), a poly(alkylene-co-methacrylate salt), a poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid), a poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid), a poly(styrene-co-thiol-terminated ethylene), a thiol-ene polymer, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyisocyanate, a polythiol, a polyester, or a combination thereof, in its backbone, and

the functional group comprises a —COOR group, wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion, a —RCOOR′ group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion; a substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C20 alkenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C20 alkynyl group; a halide moiety, a —ROR′ group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion, a —RCOX group, wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C10 alkylene group and X is F, Cl, Br, or I, a —CONRR′ group, wherein R and R′ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion, a —NRR′ group, wherein R and R′ are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic functional group, a —N(R′)— group, wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion; a —C(═O)NC(═O)— group; a —N═C═O group, a —OC(═O)—C(H)═CH 2 group, a —OC(═O)—C(CH 3 )═CH 2 group, a —SH group, a —P(═O)R′R″ group, wherein R′ and R″ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion, a —SO 3 R′ group, wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic functional group, or a monovalent to trivalent metal ion, a —NO 2 group, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the adding of the plurality of quantum dots and the additive to the polymer solution comprises simultaneously or sequentially adding a quantum dot dispersion and an additive dispersion to the polymer solution,

wherein the quantum dot dispersion is prepared by dispersing the quantum dots in a second organic solvent miscible with the first organic solvent, and

wherein the additive dispersion is prepared by dispersing the additive in a third organic solvent miscible with the first organic solvent.

22. The method of claim 19 , which further comprises adding a hydrocarbyl chloride to the mixture before cooling the mixture.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the additive is dissolved in an organic solvent miscible with the first organic solvent and then is added.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the forming of the precipitate comprises cooling the mixture after completion of the reaction between the plurality of quantum dots and the polymer or adding a precipitation-inducing substance to the mixture.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the precipitation-inducing substance comprises an organic zinc, a zinc salt, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 19 , which further comprises pulverizing the separated precipitate, and

the pulverizing is performed at a temperature of greater than about 0° C. and less than or equal to 25° C.

27. An electronic device comprising the quantum dot-polymer micronized composite of claim 1 .