Reducing Strain and Fracture\nof Electrophoretically\nDeposited CdSe Nanocrystal Films. II. Postdeposition Infusion of Monomers

Abstract

Thick electrophoretically deposited (EPD) films of ligand-capped\ncolloidal nanocrystals (NCs) typically crack when removed from the\ndeposition solvent due to the loss of residual solvent. We report\nthe suppression of fracture in several micrometers thick EPD films\nof CdSe NCs by treating the wet, as-deposited films with solutions\nof polymer precursor monomers, followed by UV-initiated polymerization.\nThe monomers diffuse into voids and, for several monomers, dissolve\nthe NCs to form a uniform dispersion in the film.