Optically-regulated optical emission using colloidal quantum dot nanocrystals

A device for detecting light in a pre-selected wavelength range and converting the detected light into light of at least one pre-selected wavelength and emitting the light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength, comprising:

• a substrate and a first electrically conducting electrode layer on the substrate;
• a polymer matrix located on the first electrically conducting electrode layer, the polymer matrix containing a mixture of nanocrystals, the mixture including at least,
• first nanocrystals which absorb light in a pre-selected wavelength range, and
• a light emitting member located in the polymer matrix which emits light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength;
• and
• a second electrically conducting electrode layer located on the polymer matrix,
• wherein at least one of said substrate and first electrically conducting electrode layer and said second electrically conducting electrode layer is substantially transparent to the light in the pre-selected wavelength range and light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength,
• wherein when light in the pre-selected wavelength range is incident on the polymer matrix and absorbed by the first nanocrystals, a photocurrent is responsively produced when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrically conducting electrode layers, and
• wherein said photocurrent acts to pump the light emitting member, which responsively emit light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength.

A method for detecting light in a pre-selected wavelength range and converting the detected light into light of at least one pre-selected wavelength and emitting the light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength, comprising the steps of:

• applying a pre-selected voltage across a polymer matrix located between first and second electrode layers, said polymer matrix containing
• first nanocrystals which absorb light in a pre-selected wavelength range, and
• a light emitting member that emits light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength;
• and
• wherein at least one of said first and second electrode layers is substantially transparent to the light in the pre-selected wavelength range and the light of at said at least one pre-selected wavelength, and
• wherein when the light in the pre-selected wavelength range is incident on the polymer matrix and absorbed by the first nanocrystals, a photocurrent is responsively produced when said pre-selected voltage is applied between the first and second electrode layers, and
• wherein said photocurrent acts to pump the light emitting member located in the polymer matrix which responsively emits light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength.

A method for detecting light in a pre-selected wavelength range and converting the detected light into light of at least one pre-selected wavelength and emitting the light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength, comprising the steps of:

• applying a pre-selected voltage across a structure which includes
• first and second electrically conducting electrode layers, and
• located between the first and second electrode layers, a first layer of first nanocrystals on said first electrode layer which absorb light in said pre-selected wavelength range, and
• at least one second layer of second nanocrystals on the layer of first nanocrystals which emit light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength, and
• said second electrically conducting electrode layer being located on the at least one second layer of nanocrystals;
• wherein at least one of said first and second electrode layers is substantially transparent to light in the pre-selected wavelength range and light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength;
• and
• wherein when light in said pre-selected wavelength range is incident on said first layer of first nanocrystals a photocurrent is responsively produced when a voltage is applied between said first and second electrode layers, and
• wherein said photocurrent acts to pump the at least one second layer of second nanocrystals which responsively emit light at said at least one pre-selected wavelength.