Graphene Quantum Dot, a Future Lighting Solution
Graphene Quantum Dot, a Future Lighting Solution
  • Reporter Park Do-won
  • 승인 2014.03.19 14:28
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Graphene is already well known as a dream material. Because it is made of carbon, graphene is less poisonous than other quantum dot materials. In addition, it reduces expense, due to a simple production process. However, its commercialization is being challenged by a fastidious process, which synthesizes graphene with desired uniform size. Also, agglomeration phenomenon among particles lowers efficiency.
A research team lead by Professor Shi-Woo Rhee (CE) developed a new method that can make a uniform-sized graphene quantum dot. Moreover, they successfully manufactured white light Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) through joint research with Prof. Tae-Woo Lee’s (MSE) team.
Quantum Dot is a nano-scale semiconductor crystal, produced by a chemical process. It is usually utilized as a hyperfine semiconductor, disease diagnostic reagent, or display material.
The research teams invented the functional molecule which can avert agglomeration, which was the biggest obstacle to utilizing graphene quantum dots. The molecule has a long tail on the functional group used when splitting graphite. To make graphene, graphite is split, and the tail prevents particles from bundling up.
The name of the new method using the molecule is amidative cutting method. Eventually, the researchers manufactured white light OLED, using quantum dot materials produced by the method.         
The white light OLED is environmentally friendly because it doesn’t contain heavy metals. Above all, the production process is relatively simple and could significantly reduce cost. It is expected to be applied to various kinds of light-emitting appliances. The research teams are going to do a follow-up study to increase the efficiency and brightness of the OLED.
This research result was published in the current on-line issue of Nano Letters, nano-technology expert journal of the American Chemical Society.