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Synthesis and optical characteristics of organic light-emitting dot based on well-defined octa-functionalized silsesquioxane

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Abstract

This article reports the synthesis and characterization of a quantum-confined luminescent dot with size 2–3 nm using well-defined m-octa(bromophenyl) silsesquioxane (m-OBPS) as core. The highly regioselective bromination of octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS), which is an electron-deficient nanometer-sized molecule, has been synthesized using combined catalyst of iodine and zinc chloride at room temperature in dichloromethane solvent. Based on m-OBPS, a hybrid luminescent dot with well-defined structure was synthesized. UV absorption and PL spectra of this light-emitting dot remain same in dilute solution, condensed state, and solid solution. Furthermore, time-resolved PL study indicates that the exciton decay time of the light-emitting dot remains similar regardless in dilute solution, condensed state, or blended with other polymers, suggesting that the charge carriers are well confined within the individual light-emitting dot due to the unique star-like structure and shielding alkyl chain layer. The light-emitting nano-particles can be considered as isolated chromophores as both inter- and intra- molecular aggregation are prohibited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 3 Research Link, Singapore, 117602, Singapore

    Yang Xiao, Xinhai Zhang & Chaobin He

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Xuehong Lu

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  1. Yang Xiao
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  2. Xuehong Lu
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  3. Xinhai Zhang
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  4. Chaobin He
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Correspondence to Xuehong Lu or Chaobin He.

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Xiao, Y., Lu, X., Zhang, X. et al. Synthesis and optical characteristics of organic light-emitting dot based on well-defined octa-functionalized silsesquioxane. J Nanopart Res 12, 2787–2798 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-9857-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-010-9857-x

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