Effect of using ink containing polyacrylate and silicone surfactant on the inkjet printing of quantum dot films

Abstract

For device printing, it is important for uniform films to be printed because the morphology of the film affects the performance of the device in inkjet printing. In this study, to prepare stable and well-dispersed ink, polyacrylate and silicone surfactant BD-3033H were added to ink. Then a uniform quantum dot (QD) film was obtained by optimizing the polyacrylate and silicone surfactant contents of the ink as well as the substrate temperature. The change of the polyacrylate structure from a curly chain structure to a three-dimensional network structure blocked the outward flow of QDs. Silicone surfactant BD-3033H caused Marangoni flow and made the QDs flow inward. When the substrate temperature was increased, the solvent evaporation rate was accelerated, the contact line was pinned, and the outward flow was enhanced, which changed the film structure from convex to flat. Finally, when the polyacrylate content was 12 wt%, the silicone surfactant BD-3033H content was 0.10 wt%, the substrate temperature was 40°C, and the coffee ring effect was eliminated. A uniform QD film was printed, providing a technical guarantee for the fabrication of QD devices in the future.