University of Illinois

Nanosi Advanced Technologies, Inc.

Goeken Group Corporation

Other

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Cleveland State University

Munir H Nayfeh

Joel M Therrien

Zain Hassan Yamani

Sahraoui Chaieb

Carlo Scianna

Ghassan Al-Chaar

Adam D Smith

Osman Akcakir

Nicholas Barry

Gennadiy Belomoin

Satish Rao

Gennadey Belomoin

Abdulrahman Al-Muhanna

Mohamad Saleh Alsalhi

Charles P Marsh

Mansour Alhoshan

Siu-Tung Yau

Taysir H Nayfeh

Muhammad Naziruddin Khan

Salman A H Alrokayan

Gang Wang

Abdurahman Mohammed Aldukhail

Abdullah Saleh Aldwayyan

Osama M Nayfeh

Gennadiy Belmoin

Mohammad Alsalhi

Turki Al Saud

Matthew Stupka

Ebtesam Mohammed Salah Al-Olayan

A nanoparticle sensor apparatus includes a silicon-based nanoparticle having a centrosymmetric crystalline structure. A lanthanide atom embedded within the silicon-based nanoparticle provides light emission when the sensor apparatus undergoes pressure loading. This sensor apparatus may be encapsulated in a polymer matrix to form a nanoparticle sensor matrix apparatus which may be located on or in a structure. To measure the pressure on such a structure, a UV light source illuminates the sensor apparatus. An optical emission detector detects the intensity of light emitted from the sensor in response, while a processor correlates that intensity to the pressure loading.

Lanthanide and silicon-based nanoparticle pressure sensor and system

A hybrid nanophosphor includes red silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous mixture blue and green phosphors. A preferred hybrid nanophosphor uses ZnS: Ag, and ZnS: Cu, Au, Al for blue and green conversion, respectively, and mono dispersed 3 nm Si nano particles as a red phosphor. Wide emission profiles are provided by all components, and predetermined color characteristics in terms of CCT and CRI can be achieved simultaneously for excitation. A preferred lighting device includes a nanophosphor thin film of the invention on a UV or near UV-LED.

Hybrid nanophosphors and UV or near UV-driven white light emitting diode

A composite of the invention is a homogenous mixture of room temperature vulcanizing material or polymer and luminescent silicon nanoparticles. The composite can be formed into a film and can serve as a paint, adhesive, or coating, depending upon the material or polymer used. A preferred polymer is polyurethane. A method for forming a silicon nanoparticle and room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) material or polymer composite of the invention includes steps of providing silicon nanoparticles that were prepared in a solvent. The solvent is mixed with RTV or polymer precursors. The RTV or polymer components are permitted to cure. A preferred solvent is isopropynol alcohol.

Nanosilicon-based room temperature paints and adhesive coatings

A photovoltaic device for converting light into electrical power includes a film () of silicon nanoparticles. The silicon nanoparticle film, which can be a multilayer film, has a photoluminescence response and couples light and or electricity into semiconductor layers. A particular example photovoltaic device of the invention include a solar cell that accepts and converts light of a predetermined wavelength range into electrical power. A film containing luminescent silicon nanoparticles is optically coupled to the solar cell. The film has a predetermined thickness. The film responds to incident radiation and produces light or electron response in the predetermined wavelength range that is optically coupled into the solar cell. In preferred embodiments, the film is additionally or alternatively electrically coupled to the solar cell, which produces charge response that is electrically coupled into the solar cell.

Silicon nanoparticle photovoltaic devices

Embodiments of the invention provide, among other things, a method of preparing nanoparticles including silicon nanoparticles. A mixture is prepared that includes auric acid (HAuCl) and HF. A silicon substrate is exposed to the prepared mixture to treat the silicon substrate. The treated silicon substrate is immersed in an etchant mixture, wherein nanoparticles are formed on a surface of the substrate. The nanoparticles are recovered from the substrate.

Auric acid assisted silicon nanoparticle formation method

A magnetic nanosilicon material comprising silicon nanoparticles impregnated with magnetic atoms. This magnetic nanosilicon material has both luminescent and magnetic properties. In certain embodiments of the invention, magnetic nanosilicon material is encapsulated in a polymer or silica sphere to provide a supermolecule. Supermolecules can be used in applications such as but not limited to detection and imaging.

Magnetic and luminescent silicon nanoparticles, supermolecules and fabrication methods

Embodiments of the invention provide silicon-based nanoparticle composites, where the silicon nanoparticles are highly luminescent. Preferred embodiments of the invention are Si&#x2014;O solid composite networks, e.g., glass, having a homogenous distribution of luminescent hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous distribution throughout the solid. Embodiments of the invention also provide fabrication processes for silicon-based silicon nanoparticle composites. A preferred method for forming a silicon-based nanoparticle composite disperses hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles and an inorganic precursor of an organosilicon gel in an aprotic solvent to form a sol. A catalyst is mixed into the sol. The sol is then permitted to dry into a gel of the silicon-based nanoparticle composite.

Silicon-based nanosilicon composites and fabrication methods

Multiple films of red-green-blue (RGB) luminescent silicon nanoparticles are integrated in a cascade configuration as a top coating in an ultraviolet/blue light emitting diode (LED) to convert it to a white LED. The configuration of RGB luminescent silicon nanoparticle films harnesses the short wavelength portion of the light emitted from the UV/blue LED while transmitting efficiently the longer wavelength portion. The configuration also reduces damaging heat and/or ultraviolet effects to both the device and to humans.

Silicon nanoparticle white light emitting device

An embodiment of the invention is luminescent silicon nanoparticle polymer composite that can serve as a wavelength converter or a UV absorber. The composite includes a polymer or an organosilicon compound; and within the polymer or organosilicon compound, a dispersion of luminescent silicon nanoparticles. In a preferred composite, the silicon nanoparticles have multiple Si&#x2014;H termination sites, the silicon nanoparticles being linked to a C site to produce a silicon carbide bond (Si&#x2014;C). In a preferred embodiment, the polymer comprises polyurethane. A composite of the invention can perform wavelength conversion. In a wavelength converted film of the invention, the silicon nanoparticles are incorporated into the polymer or organosilicon compound in a quantity sufficient for wavelength conversion but small enough to have no or an insubstantial effect on the properties of the polymer or the organosilicon compound. A white LED of the invention includes a light emitting diode having a narrow band wavelength output. A luminescent silicon wavelength converter includes a composite film as described above for converting the narrow band wavelength output into wide band wavelength output. In a preferred embodiment, the LED comprises a GaN LED, and the wavelength converter film is disposed on an active region of the LED.

Luminescent silicon nanoparticle-polymer composites, composite wavelength converter and white LED

The invention provides the use of silicon particles as redox catalyst, an electrochemical device and method thereof. As electrocatalyst, the silicon particles catalyze a redox reaction such as oxidization of the redox reactant such as renewable fuels e.g. methanol, ethanol and glucose. The device such as a fuel cell comprises a redox reactant and a catalytic composition comprising silicon nanoparticles. The silicon particles catalyze the redox reaction on an electrode such as anode in the device. In preferred embodiments, the electrocatalysis is dramatically improved under low illuminance such as in darkness. The invention can be widely used in applications related to for example a fuel cell, a sensor, an electrochemical reactor, and a memory.

Use of silicon particles as catalyst, electrochemical device comprising the particles and method thereof

Silicon nanoparticle white light emitting diode device

A relatively thick electrode is positioned opposite the surface of a substrate/second electrode. The electrode and the substrate surface are both contacted by a solution including silicon nanoparticles. The substrate surface is completely immersed in the solution in a manner such that there is not an air/solution interface and there is no meniscus at the substrate surface. Application of electrical potential between the electrode and the substrate creates a film of silicon nanoparticles on the substrate. Drying of the film induces the film to roll up and form a silicon nanoparticle nanotube material. A film may be subdivided into an array of identical portions, and the identical portions will roll into identical tubes having same length and diameter. A silicon nanoparticle nanotube material of the invention includes nanotubes formed of silicon nanoparticles.

Silicon nanoparticle nanotubes and method for making the same

A family of discrete and uniformly sized silicon nanoparticles, including 1 (blue emitting), 1.67 (green emitting), 2.15 (yellow emitting), 2.9 (red emitting) and 3.7 nm (infrared emitting) nanoparticles, and a method that produces the family. The nanoparticles produced by the method of the invention are highly uniform in size. A very small percentage of significantly larger particles are produced, and such larger particles are easily filtered out. The method for producing the silicon nanoparticles of the invention utilizes a gradual advancing electrochemical etch of bulk silicon, e.g., a silicon wafer. The etch is conducted with use of an appropriate intermediate or low etch current density. An optimal current density for producing the family is &#x2dc;10 milli Ampere per square centimeter (10 mA/cm). Higher current density favors 1 nm particles, and lower the larger particles. Blue (1 nm) particles, if any appreciable quantity exist depending on the selected current density, may be removed by, for example, shaking or ultrasound. After the etch, the pulverized wafer is immersed in dilute HF for a short time, while the particles are still connected to the wafer to weaken the linkages between the larger particles. This may be followed by separation of nanoparticles from the surface of the silicon. Once separated, various methods may be employed to form plural nanoparticles into crystals, films and other desirable forms. The nanoparticles may also be coated or doped. The invention produces the family of a discrete set of sized particles and not a continuous size distribution. Particles may be isolated from the family, i.e., it is possible to produce any one of the sizes of particles from the family after the basic method steps have been executed to produce the family of particles.

Family of discretely sized silicon nanoparticles and method for producing the same

A UV detector has a UV detection thin film of coated spherical silicon nanoparticles formed upon a substrate. The detector includes structures to bias the thin film. In preferred embodiments, a thin conductor that is at least semi-transparent to UV radiation is formed over the thin film. In preferred embodiments, the UV detector is formed as a silicon based integration, upon a device quality silicon wafer.

Coated spherical silicon nanoparticle thin film UV detector with UV response and method of making

A silicon nanoparticle transistor and transistor memory device. The transistor of the invention has silicon nanoparticles, dimensioned on the order of 1 nm, in a gate area of a field effect transistor. The resulting transistor is a transistor in which single electron flow controls operation of the transistor. Room temperature operation is possible with the novel transistor structure by radiation assistance, with radiation being directed toward the silicon nanoparticles to create necessary holes in the quantum structure for the flow of an electron. The transistor of the invention also forms the basis for a memory device. The device is a flash memory device which will store electrical charge instead of magnetic effects.

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, IL, United States of America

Munir H Nayfeh