Core-shell quantum dot-embedded polymers for antistatic applications

Electrical charges develop on the surfaces of two insulator materials when they are in contact and separated. The retention of charges on insulator polymers causes material losses and hazards in industries using these polymers. Here, we show that a set of core-shell quantum dots embedded into a common polymer can destabilize the charges on the polymer. The locations of the charge carriers in the nanostructure, or the “type” of the dots, affect their discharging ability, which can also be manipulated or reverted remotely by light. The mechanism of antistatic action is presumed to contain interaction with polymer mechanospecies. The quantum dot embedding renders the polymers antistatic without changing their conductivity. Such antistatic additives, by which the polymers remain insulating, can be used to prevent static charges, e.g., in electronic coatings and in other antistatic applications.