Tectus Corporation

University of Arkansas

Crystalplex Corporation

Lianhua Qu

Gregory David Miller

Xiaogang Peng

Hunaid B Nulwala

Zuoyan Peng

Matthew W Bootman

Quantum dots that are cadmium-free and/or stoichiometrically tuned are disclosed, as are methods of making them. Inclusion of the quantum dots and others in a stabilizing polymer matrix is also disclosed. The polymers are chosen for their strong binding affinity to the outer layers of the quantum dots such that the bond dissociation energy between the polymer material and the quantum dot is greater than the energy required to reach the melt temperature of the cross-linked polymer.

Cadmium-free quantum dots, tunable quantum dots, quantum dot containing polymer, articles, films, and 3D structure containing them and methods of making and using them

Quantum dots that are cadmium-free and/or stoichiometncally tuned are disclosed, as are methods of making them. Inclusion of the quantum dots and others in a stabilizing polymer matrix is also disclosed. The polymers are chosen for their strong binding affinity to the outer layers of the quantum dots such that the bond dissociation energy between the polymer material and the quantum dot is greater than the energy required to reach the melt temperature of the cross-linked polymer.

Passivated semiconductor nanoparticles and methods for the fabrication and use of passivated semiconductor nanoparticles is provided herein.

Passivated nanoparticles

The invention relates to methods for preparing 3-element semiconductor nanocrystals of the formula WYZ, wherein W is a Group II element, Y and Z are different Group VI elements, and 0&#x3c;X&#x3c;1, comprising dissolving a Group II element, a first Group VI element, and a second Group VI element in a one or more solvents. The Group II, VI and VI elements are combined to provide a II:VI:VI SCN precursor solution, which is heated to a temperature sufficient to produce semiconductor nanocrystals of the formula WYZ. The solvent used to dissolve the Group II element comprises octadecene and a fatty acid. The solvent used to dissolve the Group VI elements comprises octadecene. The invention also includes semiconductor nanocrystals prepared according to the disclosed methods, as well as methods of using the semiconductor nanocrystals.

Alloyed semiconductor nanocrystals

A method of synthesizing colloidal nanocrystals is disclosed using metal oxides or metal salts as a precursor. The metal oxides or metal salts are combined with a ligand and then heated in combination with a coordinating solvent. Upon heating, the metal oxides or salts are converted to stable soluble metal complexes. The metal complexes are formed by cationic species combining with the ligands and/or with the coordinating solvent. Finally, an elemental chalcogenic precursor, for example, Se, Te, or S, is introduced into the soluble metal complex to complete the formation of the nanocrystals at a controllable rate. High-quality CdSe, CdTe, and CdS nanocrystals are produced when CdO is used as the cadmium precursor. With the present method, the size, size distribution, and shape (dots or rods) of the resulting nanocrystals can be controlled during growth. For example, the resulting nanocrystals are nearly monodisperse without any size separation. Further, the method represents a major step towards a green chemistry approach for synthesizing high-quality semiconductor nanocrystals.

Synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals

The present invention provides new compositions containing colloidal nanocrystals with high photoluminescence quantum yields, new synthetic methods for the preparation of highly luminescent colloidal nanocrystals, as well as methods to control the photoluminescent properties of colloidal nanocrystals. The new synthetic methods disclosed herein allow photoemission brightness (quantum yield) to be correlated with certain adjustable nanocrystal growth parameters associated with a given synthetic scheme.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Lianhua Qu