Fabrication of Epoxy-CuInS-ZnS QDs- nanocomposite for fluorescent, transparent toughened coating applications

We herein report a simple method for preparing luminescent and highly toughened transparent epoxy/copper indium sulfide-zinc sulfide (CIS-ZnS) nanocomposite for coating applications. Briefly, fluorescent organically soluble dodecanethiol-capped CIS-ZnS core–shell quantum dots (QDs) was prepared via a solvothermal method. The as-synthesized QDs were small, spherical and highly crystalline, with an average particle diameter of 2.7 nm and improved photoluminescence quantum yields. The QDs were then dispersed in an epoxy matrix to produce a luminescent, transparent, and toughened nanocomposite with excellent mechanical properties: 5348.45 ± 58 J/m² impact strength value (90 % better than epoxy system only), 34.6 ± 2.8 MPa tensile strength and 6.55 ± 0.31% elongation at break value (significant increment compared to the neat epoxy system). The proposed method is facile and efficient in preparing luminescent, transparent and toughened surface coating materials, which could be used for various physical and automobile applications.