HIGHLY ORDERED MICRO-ARRAYS OF CdSe QUANTUM DOTS ON CHEMICALLY PATTERNED SUBSTRATES

Abstract

Highly ordered arrays consisting uniform fluorescent cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) ring or dot structures were obtained by self-assembly of QDs on chemically patterned substrates. In this method, Au substrates with alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic square patterns are firstly fabricated by microcontact printing, which allows water droplets to condense on the hydrophilic regions to provide two-dimensional template arrays. The CdSe QDs are then assembled at the liquid/liquid interfaces to give uniform micro or nanostructures. The shape and size of the rings and dots can be tailored by controlling the relative evaporation speed of the water and the organic solvents. The obtained nanostructures have ideal topography to avoid substrate-induced fluorescence quenching.