Tunable energy transfer efficiency based on the composite of mixed CdSe quantum dots and elastomeric film

We demonstrate a facile and general approach to investigate the dependence of energy transfer on the separation distance between proximal mixed-size quantum dots. Without varying the mixed concentrations, the tunable energy transfer efficiency is achieved based on the composite of mixed quantum dots and elastomeric film by utilizing the inherent nature of the flexibility of elastomeric film. To demonstrate our working principle, the composite of mixed-size CdSe quantum dots and poly-dimethylsiloxane has been studied. The results clearly show that the energy transfer process between proximal quantum dots follows the Forster resonance energy transfer, in which the dependence of the transfer efficiency E as a function of the donor-acceptor distance R obeys E=1/[1+(R/R-0)(6)]. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.