Method for preparing quantum dot film, quantum dot film prepared thereby, and wavelength conversion sheet and display comprising same
Proposed are a method of manufacturing a quantum-dot film having encapsulated quantum dots dispersed therein, in which quantum dots are uniformly dispersed in a matrix resin to thus increase quantum yield and in which deterioration of the quantum dots can be prevented through encapsulation, a quantum-dot film manufactured thereby, and a wavelength conversion sheet and a display including the same.
1. A method of manufacturing a quantum-dot film, suitable for manufacturing a quantum-dot film in which encapsulated particles obtained by encapsulating quantum dots with an encapsulation resin are dispersed in a matrix resin, the method comprising:
preparing a curable emulsion composition comprising an inner phase comprising quantum dots and a nonpolar polyolefin-based wax and an outer phase comprising a photocurable polymerization compound and a photoinitiator, the inner phase being dispersed in a droplet form in the outer phase;
encapsulating the quantum dots of the inner phase by cooling the curable emulsion composition to a temperature equal to or lower than a melting point of the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax; and
curing the outer phase by irradiating an obtained suspension with light,
wherein the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax has a repeating structure of each of Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2 below:
—[CH 2 —CH 2 ] a — [Chemical Formula 1]
—[CH 2 —CHR 1 ] b — [Chemical Formula 2]
(in Chemical Formulas 1 and 2, R 1 is a C1-C15 linear or branched alkyl group, 0.01≤b≤0.96, a+b=1).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax has a weight average molecular weight of 300 to 30,000.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax has a melting point of 40 to 180° C.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax is at least one selected from the group consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) wax, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) wax, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) wax, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inner phase is manufactured by mixing the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax with the quantum dots at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the photocurable polymerization compound is any one selected from the group consisting of an acrylic oligomer, an acrylic monomer, and combinations thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the photoinitiator is at least one selected from the group consisting of a benzoin photoinitiator, a hydroxyketone photoinitiator, an aminoketone photoinitiator, and a phosphine oxide photoinitiator.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner phase and the outer phase in the curable emulsion composition further comprises any one selected from the group consisting of ceramic nanoparticles, a crosslinking agent, a catalyst, a surfactant, and a solvent.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is at least one selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbon-based solvents including pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, decane, cyclohexane and isoparaffin, aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents including toluene, benzene, dichlorobenzene and chlorobenzene, ether-based solvents including tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane and diethyl ether, methylene chloride, and combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic nanoparticles are at least one selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, tungsten oxide, zinc oxide, and Si3N4.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quantum dots are further subjected to primary coating with the nonpolar polyolefin-based wax.
12. A quantum-dot film manufactured by the method of claim 1 and comprising:
a matrix resin comprising a photocurable resin; and
encapsulated quantum-dot particles dispersed in the matrix resin, the encapsulated quantum-dot particles being obtained through encapsulation using a nonpolar polyolefin-based wax.
13. A wavelength conversion sheet, configured such that the quantum-dot film of claim 12 is interposed between a pair of barrier films.