Optimization and performance of nitrogen-doped carbon dots as a color conversion layer for white-LED applications.

In this study, green-emitting nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDots) were synthesized and incorporated into drop-cast composite films for use as color conversion layers in a white-LED configuration to generate white light. In order to resolve the red deficiency of this configuration, a commercial red phosphor was integrated into the system. Moreover, the N-CDots were also processed into polymer/N-CDot composite fibers, for which we determined the amount of N-CDots that yielded adequate white-light properties. Finally, we showed that white light with excellent properties could be generated by employing both of the fabricated N-CDot composites either as drop-cast films or composite fibers. Hence, N-CDots provide a promising alternative to inorganic phosphors that are commonly employed in white-LED configurations.

Molecular basis for solvent dependent morphologies observed on electrosprayed surfaces.

We study the causes of the observed tunable hydrophobicity of poly(styrene-co-perfluoroalkyl ethylacrylate) electrosprayed in THF, DMF, and THF:DMF (1:1) solvents. Under the assumption that equilibrium morphologies in the solvent significantly affect the patterns observed on electrosprayed surfaces, we use atomistic and coarse-grained simulations supported by dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments to focus on the parameters that affect the resulting morphology of superhydrophobic electrosprayed beads. The differing equilibrium chain size distributions in these solvents examined by DLS are corroborated by chain dimensions obtained via molecular dynamics simulations. Mesoscopic morphologies monitored by dissipative particle dynamics simulations explain experimental observations; in particular, the preference of the polymer for THF over DMF in the binary mixture rationalizes the dual scale roughness driven by stable microphase separation. Drying phenomena that affect resultant dual-scale roughness are described in three stages, each interpreted by concentration dependent diffusion and surface mass transfer coefficients of the solvents. Irrespective of the presence of polar groups in the structure, a conflict between the lower-boiling point solvent adhering to the polymer and the less volatile solvent abundant in the bulk leads to perfectly hydrophobic surfaces.

Dual scale roughness driven perfectly hydrophobic surfaces prepared by electrospraying a polymer in good solvent-poor solvent systems.

We demonstrated a facile method to produce perfectly hydrophobic surfaces (advancing and receding angles both 180°) via electrospraying. When a copolymer of styrene and a perfluoroacrylate monomer was electrosprayed in good solvents, surfaces composed of micrometer size beads were formed and fairly low threshold water sliding angles could be achieved. Addition of high boiling point poor solvents to the solutions resulted nanoscale roughness on the beads due to a possible phase separation that occurs in a predominantly poor solvent environment. However, sliding angles were not zero even on the nanoscale roughness dominated topographies achieved by this method. On the other hand, when the electrospraying process parameters were set such that micrometer size hills of nanoscopically rough beads were formed, 0° sliding angles were measured. Videos of droplets recorded and the adhesive forces measured during a contact and release experiment revealed that these dual scale rough surfaces were indeed perfectly hydrophobic. Application of the method with other binary good solvent-poor solvent systems also resulted in perfect hydrophobicity. Overall results showed how the differences in surface topology affected the wettability of surfaces within a very narrow range between perfect and extreme hydrophobicity (advancing and receding angles both close to 180°).