Inkjet-printed multicolor arrays of highly luminescent nanocrystal-based nanocomposites

Small. 2009 May;5(9):1051-7. doi: 10.1002/smll.200801315.

Abstract

Inkjet technology is a compelling method for the flexible and cost-effective printing of functional inks. We show that nanocomposite solutions based on polystyrene and differently sized core/shell-type nanocrystals (NCs) formed by a CdSe core coated with a shell of ZnS (CdSe@ZnS) in a single solvent, chloroform, can be reliably dispensed into luminescent, multicolor pixel arrays. This study demonstrates the relevance of parameters like polymer concentration and nozzle diameter, highlighting how the optimal conditions to print NCs embedded in 5 wt% polystyrene nanocomposite are given by a 70-microm-diameter nozzle. The obtained structures show that the bright size-dependent emission of the NCs in the nanocomposite is retained in the printed pixels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Color*
  • Computer Peripherals*
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Luminescent Measurements / instrumentation
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microarray Analysis / instrumentation
  • Microarray Analysis / methods*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Particle Size
  • Printing / methods*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances