A route to diffusion embedding of CdSe/CdS quantum dots in fluoropolymer microparticles

A green and efficient synthetic approach has been developed using supercritical carbon dioxide as a transport medium for the diffusion embedding of core shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QD) into polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) microparticles, leading to matrix immobilisation of QD in PTFE. Transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy probes show that the products are fine dispersive photoluminescent nanocomposites with QD being homogeneously isolated throughout the polymer microparticle volume. Up to 3 [times] 105 QD can be embedded into a single [similar]1 [small mu ]m PTFE microparticle by this technique without degradation of the microparticulate structure. A further photoluminescence study of thermally heated and laser irradiated CdSe/CdS/PTFE microparticles reveals excellent optical performance and stability over the 20-80 [degree]C temperature range.