Synthesis of Quantum Dot-Integrated Silica-Silver Nanocomposites With Scattering and Plasmonic Effects for Enhanced...

Quantum dots (QDs) are valuable in the display industry because of their high quantum yield and superior photostability. Despite their advantages, incorporating QDs into polymer films often encounters the challenge of low external quantum efficiency, mainly because of the limited light conversion of the QDs and the low light extraction efficiency of the film. To overcome these issues, this study proposes synthetic QD-integrated nanocomposites that enhance QD photoluminescence (PL) by harmoniously combining dielectric scattering and plasmonic near-field coupling. Specifically, novel SiO₂ nanocomposites are investigated, in which QDs are embedded within SiO₂ nanospheres that act as dielectric cavities to enhance QD light absorption. Subsequently, plasmonic Ag nanoparticles are synthesized on the SiO₂ surface to simultaneously amplify the QD light emission. Notably, when these nanocomposites are embedded in a polymer film, they serve as scattering elements, increasing the external downconversion efficiency by improving light extraction. Our QD-integrated nanocomposite films exhibit a 4.34-fold enhancement in PL performance compared with conventional QD films. This improvement is verified using time-resolved PL and haze measurements, aligned with optical simulations. Our approach offers a promising strategy for achieving bright RGB color realization in QD displays and holds potential for applications in optoelectronics.