QDs-Epoxy Resin for Strain Monitoring

Abstract

The discovery of the variation of the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of quantum dots (QDs) with mechanical deformation has stimulated the interest of developing QDs-based structures for the measurement and monitoring of stress or strain. In this work, tensile bars with the coating of QDs-epoxy composite are subjected to cyclic loading and unloading tests, and the PL intensity of the coating of QDs-epoxy composite is measured as a function of mechanical strain. There are four types of responses in the PL intensity, depending on the loading condition. Transmission electron microcopy is used to examine the rearrangement of QDs in the coatings before and after the tensile tests for understanding the change in the PL response.