Quantum mechanics

Colloid

Materials science

Layer (electronics)

Receptor

Biochemistry

Computer science

Photoluminescence

Electroluminescence

Resolution (logic)

Diode

Physical chemistry

Physics

Quantum efficiency

Ligand (biochemistry)

Nanotechnology

Quantum dot laser

Artificial intelligence

Quantum

Chemistry

Semiconductor laser theory

Quantum dot

Light-emitting diode

Optoelectronics

Nature Communications

Establishing multi-colour patterning technology for colloidal quantum dots is critical for realising high-resolution displays based on the material. Here, we report a solution-based processing method to form patterns of quantum dots using a light-driven ligand crosslinker, ethane-1,2-diyl bis(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoate). The crosslinker with two azide end groups can interlock the ligands of neighbouring quantum dots upon exposure to UV, yielding chemically robust quantum dot films. Exploiting the light-driven crosslinking process, different colour CdSe-based core-shell quantum dots can be photo-patterned; quantum dot patterns of red, green and blue primary colours with a sub-pixel size of 4 μm × 16 μm, corresponding to a resolution of &gt;1400 pixels per inch, are demonstrated. The process is non-destructive, such that photoluminescence and electroluminescence characteristics of quantum dot films are preserved after crosslinking. We demonstrate that red crosslinked quantum dot light-emitting diodes exhibiting an external quantum efficiency as high as 14.6% can be obtained.

High-resolution patterning of colloidal quantum dots via non-destructive, light-driven ligand crosslinking