Organic-inorganic nanocomposite micro-spheres: Synthesis and characterization

Luminescent nanoparticles with advantageous properties for optoelectronics applications come in both inorganic and organic forms. Inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), primarily based on CdSe/ZnS, are highly efficient light-emitters in the visible range of the spectrum; truxene oligofluorenes are an organic counterpart with similarly attractive properties. In this work, we developed nanocomposites with these nanoparticles embedded in a polymer matrix. Mask-less and non-contact processes are used to pattern these nano-materials. A suspension polymerization technique is used in particular to create micron-scale luminescent nanocomposite spheres dispersed in water. Their characterization shows that the properties of the nanoparticles are retained in the micro-spheres.