Intercalated synthesis of zinc oxide quantum dots between multilayered organic films: Preparation of 2D superlattices in colloidal solutions

Intercalation of ZnO quantum dots into two-dimensional (2D) laminated sodium lauryl sulfonate films in a colloidal solution was demonstrated. Without any substrates, hybrid films composed of a dispersed ZnO dots layer and organic films exhibit a high stability and regular 2D superlattice stacking after removal of cosurfactant molecules and water. The 2D superlattice films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectra were used to investigate the growth of ZnO QDs between organic films and study their collective optical characteristics.