Vanderbilt University

James R McBride

Sandra J Rosenthal

Michael J Bowers

Teresa E Tilyou

Michael A Schreuder

Inorganic photoluminescent nanoparticles comprising a solid assembly comprising a first plurality of atoms from group II crystallized with a second plurality of atoms from group VI; at least one dimension of the assembly less than about 3.0 nm; and one or more organocarboxylate agents coupled to a surface that bounds the assembly, wherein the nanocrystal exhibits nanocrystal photoluminescence quantum yield of at least about 10%. Coupling to such surface comprises coating at least a portion of the nanocrystal being coated with the organocarboxylate agent, wherein the organocarboxylate agent is a carboxylic acid or the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid. The carboxylic acid can be is selected from formic acid, acetic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, oleic acid, and benzoic acid. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Enhancement of light emission quantum yield in treated broad spectrum nanocrystals

Disclosed are inorganic nanoparticles comprising a body comprising cadmium and/or zinc crystallized with selenium, sulfur, and/or tellurium; a multiplicity of phosphonic acid ligands comprising at least about 20% of the total surface ligand coverage; wherein the nanocrystal is capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the maximum absorbance wavelength of the first electromagnetic region is different from the maximum emission wavelength of the second electromagnetic region, thereby providing a Stokes shift of at least about 20 nm, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 100 nm wide band of wavelengths, and wherein the nanoparticle exhibits has a quantum yield of at least about 10%. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Surface structures for enhancement of quantum yield in broad spectrum emission nanocrystals

Disclosed herein are methods of preparing inorganic nanoparticles. In one aspect, the methods can comprise heating a reaction mixture comprising a Cto Calkyl- or arylphosphonic acid and a source of cadmium or zinc to a temperature of greater than about 300&#xb0; C.; adding to the reaction mixture an injection mixture comprising a Cto Ctrialkyl- or triarylphosphine and a source of selenium, sulfur, or tellurium; and decreasing the temperature of the reaction mixture to less than about 300&#xb0; C. Also disclosed herein are nanoparticles made from the disclosed methods. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Broad-emission nanocrystals and methods of making and using same

In one aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle or nanocrystal, also referred to as a quantum dot, capable of emitting white light. In a further aspect, the invention relates to an inorganic nanoparticle capable of absorbing energy from a first electromagnetic region and capable of emitting light in a second electromagnetic region, wherein the second electromagnetic region comprises an at least about 50 nm wide band of wavelengths and to methods for the preparation thereof. In further aspects, the invention relates to a frequency converter, a light emitting diode device, a modified fluorescent light source, an electroluminescent device, and an energy cascade system comprising the nanoparticle of the invention. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

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Nashville, TN, United States of America

James R McBride