Photostable epoxy polymerized carbon quantum dots luminescent thin films and the performance study

High photostable epoxy polymerized carbon quantum dots (C-dots) luminescent thin films were prepared and their performances were compared with the CdTe quantum dots (QDs). First, water soluble C-dots (λem   =   543.60   nm) were synthesized. Poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEG) and diaminooctane were used as the polymer matrix to make the epoxy resin films. FT-IR spectra showed that there were vibration at 3448   cm −1 and 1644   cm −1 which contributed to -OH and -NH respectively. SEM observations showed that the polymerizations of the films were uniform and there were no structure defects. Mechanical tests showed the tensile modulus of C-dots composite films were 4.6, 4.9, 6.4 and 7.8   MPa respectively with corresponding 0%, 1%, 2% and 5% mass fraction of C-dots, while the tensile modulus of CdTe QDs films were 4.6   MPa under the same mass fraction of CdTe QDs. Compared with semiconductor QDs, the decay of quantum yield were 5% and 10% for the C-dots and CdTe QDs, respectively. The pictures in the continuous irradiation of 48   h showed that the C-dots film was more photostable. This study provides much helpful and profound towards the fluorescent enhancement films in the field of flexible displays.