Nanocrystals as Precursors for Flexible Functional Films

Nanocrystals – your flexible friends! The use of nanocrystals as precursors for the one-step formation of flexible functional films by using an air plasma is demonstrated. This treatment does not harm the photoluminescence of the individual nanocrystal building blocks but confers on them resilience to bending as well as acidic environments, hot solvents, annealing, and UV irradiation. The chemical accessibility and selective etching of the nanocrystals allows for micrometer-scale patterning of the film (see Figure).