Relations between Dewetting of Polymer Thin Films and Phase-Separation of Encompassed Quantum Dots

Incorporation of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) at high densities in polymer thin films is promising for the development of nanoscale sensors, light-emitting diodes, and photovoltaic devices. However, inhomogeneous distribution and aggregation of QDs in polymers limit the applications of QD−polymer composites. We investigated the origin of the aggregation of CdSe-ZnS QDs in polybutadiene (PB) thin films and its relations with the dewetting of polymer thin films on inorganic surfaces. Microscale dewetting of PB thin films on glass surfaces resulted in the formation of honeycomb structures of PB, and nanoscale dewetting on the QD surface resulted in phase-separation and aggregation of QDs. The formation of the honeycomb structures of PB is attributed to phase-separation between PB and glass during the dewetting on the glass surface, and the aggregation of QDs is attributed to the phase-separation between PB and QDs during the dewetting on the QD surface. The honeycomb structures of PB are characterized us...

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