Polyelectrolyte−Quantum Dot Multilayer Films Fabricated by Combined Layer-by-Layer Assembly and Langmuir−Schaefer Deposition

Stable multilayer thin films, assembled by a combination of layer-by-layer processing of polyelectrolytes and inorganic quantum dot monolayers prepared using the Langmuir−Schaefer deposition procedure, have been examined. Film formation and structure are confirmed using UV−vis absorption measurements and fluorescence spectroscopy. Growth is shown to be linear over several polyelectrolyte−quantum dot multilayers. Films consist of either (trioctylphosphine/trioctylphosphine oxide)-capped CdSe (4.1 nm ± 0.16 nm) or dodecanethiol-capped Au quantum dots (6.0 nm ± 0.9 nm) within polyelectrolyte bilayers of the well-studied (poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(styrene sulfonate)) system. Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions combine as the basis for assembly using this versatile new procedure.