Quantum Dots Stabilized With A Metal Thiol Polymer
A composition of matter comprises a plurality of quantum dots and a metal thiol polymer that acts to stabilize the quantum dots. In certain embodiments, the metal thiol polymer is a zinc thiol polymer. The zinc thiol polymer may be a zinc alkanethiolate. The zinc alkanethiolate may be zinc dodecanethiolate (Zn-DDT). A composition comprising a plurality of quantum dots and a metal thiol polymer may be formulated with one or more additional polymers as a quantum dot-containing bead or as a quantum dot-containing composite material—e.g., a multilayer film.
1 . A method for preparing quantum dot beads comprising:
preparing a first solution comprising a monomer, a cross-linker, and a polymerization photoinitiator;
dispersing quantum dots in the first solution to produce a second solution;
mixing the second solution with zinc thiol polymer to produce a third solution;
adding the third solution to an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol and a surfactant under continuous stirring to form a fourth solution; and
exposing the fourth solution to ultraviolet light to form quantum dot beads.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zinc thiol polymer is a zinc alkanethiolate.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the zinc alkanethiolate is zinc dodecanethiolate (Zn-DDT).
4 . Quantum dot beads prepared according to the method of claim 1 .
5 . A method for preparing zinc dodecanethiolate (Zn-DDT) polymer comprising:
adding a zinc salt to a synthetic heat transfer fluid to form a first solution;
annealing the first solution under an inert atmosphere;
adding dodecanethiol to the first solution in an amount relative to the amount of the anhydrous zinc salt used to provide a second solution;
annealing the second solution;
cooling the second solution; and
adding a non-solvent to precipitate Zn-DDT polymer.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
dissolving the precipitated Zn-DDT in a non-polar solvent to produce a third solution and insoluble material; and
drying the insoluble material.
7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
drying the precipitated Zn-DDT polymer to produce a powder consisting essentially of Zn-DDT polymer.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein adding dodecanethiol to the first solution in an amount relative to the amount of anhydrous zinc salt used to provide a second solution comprises adding dodecanethiol in an amount such that the second solution has a Zn-to-S ratio of about 1:0.9.
9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the zinc salt is zinc acetate.
10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the zinc salt is zinc dimethacrylate.
11 . A method for preparing quantum dot beads comprising:
preparing a first solution comprising a monomer, a cross-linker, and a polymerization photoinitiator;
dispersing quantum dots in the first solution to produce a second solution;
mixing the second solution with a Zn-DDT polymer produced according to the method of claim 5 to produce a third solution;
adding the third solution to an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol and a surfactant under continuous stirring to form a fourth solution; and
exposing the fourth solution to ultraviolet light to form quantum dot beads.
12 . A composite material comprising:
quantum dots embedded in a resin comprising a Zn-DDT polymer produced according to the method of claim 5 ,
wherein the quantum dots embedded in the resin comprising the Zn-DDT polymer are in the form of a ground composite powder.
13 . A composition of matter comprising:
a plurality of quantum dots; and
a Zn-DDT polymer produced according to the method of claim 5 .
14 . The composition recited in claim 13 , further comprising a resin material different from the Zn-DDT polymer.
15 . The composition recited in claim 13 formulated as a dry powder.
16 . The composition recited in claim 13 formulated as a solution.