Refractive index variable element

A refractive index variable element, comprising:

• a structure comprising:
• a solid matrix;
• and one or more types of quantum dots dispersed in the solid matrix and having discrete occupied and unoccupied electron energy levels,
• the quantum dots performing, a function of generating a pair of positive and negative charges upon irradiation with light, a function of trapping a positive charge, and a function of trapping a negative charge, and
• the quantum dots performing the function of trapping a negative charge, wherein a metal chelate complex is selected from the group consisting of an acetyl acetone complex, a catechol complex, and an oxine complex.

A refractive index variable element, comprising:

• a structure comprising:
• a solid matrix;
• and one or more types of quantum dots dispersed in the solid matrix and having discrete occupied and unoccupied electron energy levels,
• the quantum dots performing, a function of generating a pair of positive and negative charges upon irradiation with light, a function of trapping a positive charge, and a function of trapping a negative charge, and
• the quantum dots performing the function of trapping a negative charge, wherein a metallocene or a derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of ferrocene, nickelocene, acetylferrocene, phenylferrocene, p-nitrophenylferrocene, acetylnickelocene, phenylnickelocene, and p nitrophenylnickelocene.

A refractive index variable element, comprising:

• a structure comprising:
• a solid matrix;
• and one or more types of quantum dots dispersed in the solid matrix and having discrete occupied and unoccupied electron energy levels,
• the quantum dots performing, a function of generating a pair of positive and negative charges upon irradiation with light, a function of trapping a positive charge, and a function of trapping a negative charge, and
• the quantum dots performing the function of trapping a negative charge having 20% or more of electronic polarizability variation which is a value calculated by a molecular orbital method B3LYP/6-31+G*, assuming that the quantum dots have trapped a negative charge.

A refractive index variable element, comprising:

• a structure comprising:
• a solid matrix;
• and paired quantum dots dispersed in the solid matrix, the paired quantum dots comprising an electron-accepting quantum dot to be converted into an anion and an electron-donating quantum dot to be converted into a cation in which an electron is transferred between two types of quantum dots;
• and
• a voltage source which applies a voltage to the structure.