Flexible Light-Emitting Nanocomposite Based on ZnO Nanotetrapods

Flexible, light-emitting materials have shown promise in a wide range of applications. Here, we develop an inverse soft-lithography process for embedding zinc oxide nanotetrapods (ZnO NTP) uniformly and nondestructively into a host matrix. The crystalline NTPs were synthesized using a catalyst-free, environmentally friendly chemical vapor transport method. The fluorescent emission of the ZnO NTPs was measured before and after the embedding process. Cyclical mechanical bend tests (N > 100) were performed. The emission of the nanomaterial remains throughout.