Polymer photonic crystal band-gap modulation using PbS quantum dots

Abstract

This study aims to present the manufacture of polymer photonic crystals (PCs) and the study of the influence of PbS quantum dots on their optical properties. Monodisperse latexes resulting from the polymerization of styrene and acrylic acid were obtained by a soap-free emulsion copolymerization process and their optical response was modified using PbS high refractive index nanoparticles. A stop-band modulation was achieved by controlling the nanoparticles concentration that resulted in the altering of the self-assembly process. Thus, at low PbS concentrations, a blue-shift of the band-gap was registered, whereas at high concentrations, a red-shift was measured. The hybrid materials were investigated by DLS, SEM, HRTEM, UV-VIS and XRD analyses.