Lanthanide and Ladder-Structured Polysilsesquioxane Composites for Transparent Color Conversion Layers

Ladder-type polysilsesquioxanes (LPSQs) containing phenyl as a high refractive index unit and cyclic epoxy as a curable unit were found to be excellent candidates for a transparent color conversion layer for displays due to being miscible with organic solvents and amenable to transparent film formation. Therefore, the LPSQs were combined with luminescent lanthanide metals, europium Eu(III), and terbium Tb(III), to fabricate transparent films with various emission colors, including red, orange, yellow, and green. The high luminescence and transmittance properties of the LPSQs–lanthanide composite films after thermal curing were attributed to chelating properties of hydroxyl and polyether side chains of LPSQs to lanthanide ions, as well as a light sensitizing effect of phenyl side chains of the LPSQs. Furthermore, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and nanoindentation tests indicated that the addition of the nanoparticles to the LPSQs moderately enhanced the epoxy conversion rate and substantially improved the wear resistance, including hardness, adhesion, and insusceptibility to atmospheric corrosion in a saline environment. Thus, the achieved LPGSG–lanthanide hybrid organic–inorganic material could effectively serve as a color conversion layer for displays.