Alignment of CdSe/CdS Nanoparticles in UV-Curable Resin for Applications in Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Abstract

Highly luminescent UV-curable nanocomposites with parallel alignment of colloidal nanorods possessing dipolar emission are desired for applications in luminescent solar concentrators. Here, we show that full alignment of colloidal CdSe/CdS core-shell nanorods can be achieved in solution using external AC electric fields. Partial alignment of nanorods is achieved in resin using this same method. Nanorod orientation is determined by measuring the concurrent change in absorbance as a function of an applied electric field. In addition, we show that highly fluorescent optical quality nanocomposites with monodisperse nanorods can be produced using a UV-curable resin. Ordered nanocomposites are produced by curing the resin while the films are under an applied electric field. An ultra-microtome is used to probe nanorod orientation within the cured nanocomposite via TEM imaging to calculate an order parameter that quantifies the degree of alignment present in the films.