National Research Council of Canada

Rubipy Scientific, Inc.

Ming Zhou

Shoude Chang

Jianfu Ding

Chander P Grover

Mei Li

Pascal Vuillaume

Futian Liu

Linpo Yu

Mike Day

The invention relates to electronically neutral metal complexes as luminescent labels. The positive charge of the metal ion in the complex is neutralized by the negatively charged groups that are covalently linked to the nitrogen-containing diimine ligands, such as 2,2-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline and their derivatives. The electronic neutrality reduces the impact of the metal complexes on the biological and/or biochemical activities of the labeled biomolecules, while the intensity of luminescent emission under electrochemical excitation is enhanced. These luminescent metal complex labels are useful in bioanalytic methodology development, with luminescence as the signal modality, such as electrochemiluminescence.

Electronically neutral metal complexes as biological labels

An optical based identification system that is easily deployable and can be used in broad daylight. Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) that fluoresce at specific wavelengths are distributed in a suitable polymer. The resulting mixture can then be applied as paint or on an adhesive label for application to a portion of any equipment or member of a friendly unit. The system also has a corresponding detectional processing unit which may be mounted on ordnance or on any other equipment such as aircraft. The detection unit uses a laser, which when active, causes a laser beam to strike the paint or adhesive able applied to the friendly unit. This causes the quantum dots to fluoresce. The fluorescence of the quantum dots can be detected by the sensor portion of the detection/processing unit. The sensor portion then transmits the data generated by the detected fluorescence to a data processing portion detection/processing unit such as a corresponding signal to the equipment operator or, if the unit is mounted on ordnance that has been launched to the warhead to deactivate the warhead. To overcome the effects of broad daylight on an optical system, the quantum dots can be detected by the sensor portions of the detection/processing unit. The sensor portion then transmits the data generated by the detected fluorescence to a data processing portion which decodes the data. If the decoded data indicates a friendly unit, the detection/processing unit sends a corresponding signal to the equipment operator or, if the unit is mounted on ordnance that has been launched to the warhead to deactivate the warhead. To overcome the effects of broad daylight on an optical system, the quantum dots are engineered to fluoresce at wavelengths corresponding to the absorption lines of the solar spectrum, more commonly known as Fraunhofer lines.

Object identification using quantum dots fluorescence allocated on Fraunhofer solar spectral lines

In a method of coding and retrieving information by using the unique emission properties of the semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) for the identification of valuable documents, articles and objects, a carrier medium is prepared containing quantum dots selected to give the carrier medium defined fluorescent emission characteristics encoding predetermined information. The carrier medium is then applied to the object, preferably in the form of an ink.

Spectral coding by fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals for document identification and security applications

A process for preparing a fluorinated poly(arylene ether) comprising the repeating unit: wherein n provides a molecular weight up to about 30,000 to 100,000, X represents one of following groups: none, ketone, sulfone, sulfide, ether, hexafluoroisopropylidene, &#x3b1;&#x3c9;-perfluoroalkylene, oxadiazole, and Y is 4,4'-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-diphenyl, 4,4&#x2032;-isopropylidene diphenyl, 3,3&#x2032;-isopropylidene diphenyl, phenyl, or chlorinated phenol which process comprises reacting a bis(pentafluorophenyl) compound and a bisphenol or hydroquinone in the presence of a dehydrating agent and a polar aprotic solvent is disclosed. Polymers resulting from the process show good promise as new passive optic polymer waveguide materials.

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Ottawa, Canada

Ming Zhou