Fabrication of high quantum yield quantum dot/polymer films by enhancing dispersion of quantum dots using silica particles.

We have fabricated quantum dot (QD)/polymer films of high quantum yield by coating silica particles with quantum dots. When particles were dispersed in tetrahydrofuran, free QD suspension exhibited higher quantum yield than QD-coated silica particles. Scattering is a most likely reason for the drop in quantum yield for the QD-coated silica particles, as supported by results of silica particles with varying morphologies: for example, QD-coated hollow silica particles showed higher quantum yield than filled silica particles, as the hollowness gave rise to reduced scattering.