Functionalized matrices for dispersion of nanostructures

A composition comprising:

• a nanostructure;
• a polymeric ligand, which ligand comprises a silicone backbone and one or more primary and/or secondary amine moieties coupled to the silicone backbone;
• and
• an organic epoxy crosslinker, wherein the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of:

A method of making a composite material, the method comprising

• providing a population of nanostructures, wherein the nanostructures have a first polymeric ligand bound to a surface of the nanostructures, which first polymeric ligand comprises a silicon backbone and one or more primary and/or secondary amine moieties coupled to the silicone backbone;
• providing an excess of the first polymeric ligand, which excess first polymeric ligand is not bound to the surface of the nanostructures;
• providing a second polymeric ligand, which second polymeric ligand comprises a silicone backbone and one or more primary and/or secondary amine moieties coupled to the terminal subunits of the second polymeric ligand;
• and
• incorporating the first polymeric ligand bound to the nanostructures, the excess first polymeric ligand, and the second polymeric ligand into a silicone matrix in which the nanostructures are embedded.

A composition comprising;

• a nanostructure;
• and
• a polymeric ligand, wherein the ligand is
• where m and n are positive integers, where the ratio of m:n is about 3:100, and wherein the formula weight of the ligand is about 21,000.