Fabrication of luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposites with tailorable optical, thermal and mechanical properties
Inventors
Boyd, Darryl A. • Stewart, Michael H. • Susumu, Kimihiro • Oh, Eunkeu • Wissman, James P.
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11180696-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-23
Expiration Date
2038-10-05
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Abstract
This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.
Core Innovation
This disclosure teaches the development of polymeric materials made using thiol-yne chemistry, which have quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles incorporated into them to produce transparent, luminescent materials with tailorable mechanical, optical, and thermal properties. The invention involves the synthesis of novel ligands used to functionalize QDs, followed by the incorporation of these functionalized QDs into a thiol-yne prepolymer matrix. The material is then polymerized, either by photopolymerization or thermal curing, to produce luminescent QD thiol-yne nanocomposites.
The problem being solved is the lack of materials that can simultaneously impart flexibility, stretchability, durability, scratch resistance, transparency, and shatterproof properties to device displays while enhancing color characteristics for brighter and more realistic visual output. Although polymers made using thiol-yne chemistry and luminescent QD nanoparticles independently provide desirable material properties, there have been no prior reports of combining these materials for use in device displays or additive manufacturing applications.
The invention provides a novel method for creating luminescent QD thiol-yne nanocomposites by functionalizing QDs with newly synthesized ligands that allow their facile incorporation into the thiol-yne polymer matrix. This approach preserves the valuable mechanical and optical properties of the polymer host while enabling tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties dependent on the monomers and quantum dots used. The materials can be polymerized by thermal or photo methods and show promise for technological applications such as device display screens and additive manufacturing.
Claims Coverage
The patent comprises three independent claims focused on the method of making ligands for quantum dot functionalization and the resulting ligand product.
Method for making a ligand for quantum dot functionalization
The method includes mixing lipoic acid with carbonyldiimidazole, adding chloroform to form a mixture, reacting with N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hexynamide and triethylamine in chloroform to form LA-alkyne, dissolving LA-alkyne in THF, adding sodium borohydride to the solution, and forming DHLA-alkyne.
Product of the ligand synthesis process
A product resulting from the steps of mixing lipoic acid and carbonyldiimidazole, adding chloroform, reacting with N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hexynamide and triethylamine to form LA-alkyne, dissolving LA-alkyne in THF, adding sodium borohydride and forming DHLA-alkyne.
Ligands represented by specific chemical formulas
Ligands represented by the disclosed chemical formulas as functionalized molecules suitable for quantum dot ligand applications.
The independent claims focus on novel chemical methods to synthesize specific ligands, the ligand product itself, and the chemical structure of those ligands, which enable functionalizing quantum dots for incorporation into polymer matrices.
Stated Advantages
Creation of novel ligands for the functionalization of nanoparticles.
Fabrication of materials via both thermal polymerization and photopolymerization methods.
Materials with tailorable optical properties dependent on prepolymer monomers and incorporated quantum dots.
Materials with tailorable mechanical properties dependent on prepolymer monomers and incorporated quantum dots.
Materials with tailorable thermal properties dependent on prepolymer monomers and incorporated quantum dots.
Documented Applications
Use as screens in device displays.
Use as materials in additive manufacturing.
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