Temperature Dependent Optical Properties of Silicon Quantum Dot/Polymer Nanocomposites

Abstract

The photoluminescent properties of silicon quantum dots embedded in a stabilizing polymer matrix are relevant to a number of potential applications of these unique nanomaterials such as drug delivery, temperature sensing, and photovoltaics. Aspects of how these photoluminescent properties change with respect to variations in such parameters as excitation intensity, polymer interactions, particle size and particle polydispersity are investigated here. Improving the photostability and understanding the nature of how this is achieved will be critical for realizing the potential of silicon quantum dots in a number of applications. Improvements in photoluminescent stability related to fluorescence intermittency, radiative lifetime, emitted intensity, and wavelength shifts are shown to be due to decreased exposure to oxygen, increased particle packing, decreased temperature, and increased monodispersity of the quantum dots.