Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Structure Modification through Zn-Cu-In-S / ZnS Quantum Dot Nanocrystals Dispersion

Abstract The aim of the current study was to present a simple method for the fabrication of quantum dot (QD)/polymer films for possible use as a luminescent material in medical applications. To this aim the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer matrix was modified in order to host Zinc Copper Indium Sulfide encapsulated by an outer core of Zinc Sulfide (ZnCuInS/ZnS) QD nanocrystals, through dispersion. Four composite PMMA films of ZnCuInS/ZnS nanocrystals with maximum emission at 530 nm and concentrations of 1.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 10.0 %w/v, were prepared. X-ray irradiation and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were used to evaluate the volume homogeneity of the final samples, as a measure of QD dispersion. The coefficient of variation (CV) estimated from homogeneity measurements, increased with increasing concentration, for the 1.0, 4.0 and 6.0 %w/v samples. The minimum CV value was obtained for the 10.0 %w/v sample which is attributed to the incorporation of sonication in the final product, during the fabrication process. Homogenous dispersion was observed from the SEM micrographs.