Supporting data for "3D Printed Silicon Nanocrystal Light Emitting Diodes"

Abstract

The application of 3-D printing to the fabrication of light emitting diode (LED) requires the ability to integrate materials with distinct properties into one functional device by tuning the printability of materials and precisely confining the cured patterns within the predesigned 3-D structure. To meet this goal, material properties, e.g., viscosity, surface tension and degree of crosslinking are optimized to improve the compatibility with the 3-D printing technique. Particularly, silicon nano crystal (SiNC), the nontoxic active material for the printed LED, is investigated in terms of controllable dispensing of the solution-based material as well as surface roughness and uniformity of the printed layer. With the successful red-IR light emission from the printed SiNC-LED, 3-D printing displays the potential to fabricate optoelectronic devices that are flexible, biocompatible and conforming to the surface shape of the target object in a freeform manner.