Ordering Quantum Dot Clusters via Nematic Liquid Crystal Defects

ORAL

Abstract

Nematic liquid crystal (LC) materials can be used to create ordered clusters of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) from a homogeneous isotropic dispersion. At the phase transition, the ordered domains of nematic LC expel the majority of dispersed QDs into the isotropic domains. The final LC phase produces a series of QD clusters that are situated at the defect points of the liquid crystal texture. Lower concentrations of QDs are organized in a network throughout the LC matrix that originates from the LC phase transition. Inside the QD clusters the inter-particle distance enables efficient energy transfer from high energy dots to lower energy dots. Because the QD clusters form at defect sites, the location of the clusters can be preselected by seeding the LC cell with defect nucleation points.

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Authors

  • Andrea Rodarte

    University of California Merced

  • Nilgun Sungar

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Irvine, California State University, Fresno, Physics Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, Seogang University, Pohang University of Science \& Technology, UC Santa Cruz, Trinity College, Hartford, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CSU Long Beach, Physics/Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics/University of California, San Deigo, Physics/California State University, Fresno, CSU Stanislaus, University of California, Santa Barbara, Instituted of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, SpaceX, Northrop-Grumman, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Department of Physics, University of California at Davis, Davis 95616, United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Chemistry/California State University Fresno, Physics/California State University Fresno, University of California Santa Barbara, University of California Merced, UC Merced, Stanford University, New Economic School, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Chair of the Physics Department

  • Nilgun Sungar

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Irvine, California State University, Fresno, Physics Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, Seogang University, Pohang University of Science \& Technology, UC Santa Cruz, Trinity College, Hartford, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CSU Long Beach, Physics/Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics/University of California, San Deigo, Physics/California State University, Fresno, CSU Stanislaus, University of California, Santa Barbara, Instituted of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, SpaceX, Northrop-Grumman, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Department of Physics, University of California at Davis, Davis 95616, United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Chemistry/California State University Fresno, Physics/California State University Fresno, University of California Santa Barbara, University of California Merced, UC Merced, Stanford University, New Economic School, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Chair of the Physics Department

  • Nilgun Sungar

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Irvine, California State University, Fresno, Physics Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, Seogang University, Pohang University of Science \& Technology, UC Santa Cruz, Trinity College, Hartford, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CSU Long Beach, Physics/Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics/University of California, San Deigo, Physics/California State University, Fresno, CSU Stanislaus, University of California, Santa Barbara, Instituted of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, SpaceX, Northrop-Grumman, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Department of Physics, University of California at Davis, Davis 95616, United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Chemistry/California State University Fresno, Physics/California State University Fresno, University of California Santa Barbara, University of California Merced, UC Merced, Stanford University, New Economic School, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Chair of the Physics Department