Abstract
Photoluminescence from CdTe quantum dots encapsulated within hydrogel nanospheres can be controlled by the application an external dc electric field. Dynamic light scattering measurement of hydrogel placed under an electric field shows the collapse of the hydrogel sphere from 312 to 180 nm due to volume phase transition. Distances between quantum dots placed within the hydrogel sphere can be controlled by the applied field. A 50% enhancement in the PL intensity is observed under the influence of a dc field less than 5 V/cm. A red-shift in the peak PL intensity and emission from larger sized dots indicate energy transfer between the quantum dots. The collapse of gels is reversible and therefore has potential application in non-volatile memory devices.
Highlights
A hydrogel polymer is material with the ability to absorb significant amounts of water and retain its structural integrity
An external electric field applied to the PNIPAM nanosphere gels encapsulating the quantum dots (QD) can be instead used to manipulate the interdot distance or surface potential of the quantum dot
This paper shows an electric field dependent collapse of the PNIPAM nanospheres and employs the electric field dependence as a means to adjust the photoluminescence process of the QDs in a hybrid material
Summary
A hydrogel polymer is material with the ability to absorb significant amounts of water and retain its structural integrity. An external electric field applied to the PNIPAM nanosphere gels encapsulating the QDs can be instead used to manipulate the interdot distance or surface potential of the quantum dot. This field applied to the hydrogel spheres can modify the optical as well as the chemical properties of the medium and thereby the emission properties of the CdTe QDs. The interdot distance which depends on the length of the cross-linkers binding the polymers chains to the QD can be changed by external stimulus [22,23]. This paper shows an electric field dependent collapse of the PNIPAM nanospheres and employs the electric field dependence as a means to adjust the photoluminescence process of the QDs in a hybrid material
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