Preparation of photoluminescent glass capsules incorporating CdSe-based quantum dots by surface silanization and reverse micelle method

Abstract

We have developed a method to prepare photoluminescent (PL) glass capsules incorporating quantum dots (QDs). Hydrophobic CdSe/CdxZn1-xS QDs capped with oleic acid (OA) were synthesized by an organic route. The QD-incorporated capsules were prepared by a two-step method. In Step 1, the QDs were silanized by using partially hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) via replacing OA on the QDs. In Step 2, the QDs assembled when introduced into reverse micelle with water. Then the QDs were encapsulated in glass capsules. The resulting water-dispersible capsules retained high PL efficiency because the QD surface was effectively protected in Step 1.