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Colloidal Synthesis of Nanopatch Antennas for Applications in Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
Published on: May 28, 2016
Fluorochromic polymer films containing ultrasmall silver nanoclusters.
Libing Wang1, Huan Chen, Qiyan Yin
1State Key Laboratory Base of Novel Functional Materials and Preparation Science, School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Specialty Polymers, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, People's Republic of China.
This study introduces a novel elastic polymer film with silver nanoclusters that changes color and fluorescence with heat. This thermally fluorochromic material has potential for smart optical applications like thermo-printing and soft OLED displays.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Fluorochromic materials offer dynamic optical properties for advanced applications.
- Silver nanoclusters are promising for tunable optical and electronic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a thermally fluorochromic elastic polymer film using silver nanoclusters.
- To investigate the mechanism behind heat-induced changes in fluorescence.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of silver nanoclusters into an elastic polymer film.
- Thermal treatment at temperatures above 120 °C.
- Analysis of changes in fluorescence emission, quantum yield, and fluorescence lifetime.
Main Results:
- The polymer film exhibited significant fluorochromism, shifting from red to yellow emission upon heating.
- Thermal treatment enhanced fluorescence intensity, quantum yield, and fluorescence lifetime.
- Thermo-induced etching of larger silver nanoclusters to smaller ones was identified as the key mechanism.
Conclusions:
- A simple, solid-state size-tuning process of silver nanoclusters enables thermo-fluorochromism and fluorescence enhancement.
- The developed material is suitable for thermo-printing applications.
- This work presents a new approach for smart optical materials, including potential uses in optical data storage and soft OLED displays.
