title: Spatially selective assembly of quantum dot light emitters in an LED using engineered peptides.
abstract: Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots are utilized in numerous applications in nano- and biotechnology. In device applications, where several different material components are involved, quantum dots typically need to be assembled at explicit locations for enhanced functionality. Conventional approaches cannot meet these requirements where assembly of nanocrystals is usually material-nonspecific, thereby limiting the control of their spatial distribution. Here we demonstrate directed self-assembly of quantum dot emitters at material-specific locations in a color-conversion LED containing several material components including a metal, a dielectric, and a semiconductor. We achieve a spatially selective immobilization of quantum dot emitters by using the unique material selectivity characteristics provided by the engineered solid-binding peptides as smart linkers. Peptide-decorated quantum dots exhibited several orders of magnitude higher photoluminescence compared to the control groups, thus, potentially opening up novel ways to advance these photonic platforms in applications ranging from chemical to biodetection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey. volkan@bilkent.edu.tr
authors.forename: Hilmi Volkan
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Urartu Ozgur Safak
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: Seker
authors.forename: Gulis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutlugun
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Candan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tamerler
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarikaya
mesh_terms: D008027:Light; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D045663:Quantum Dots
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides