Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

The University of Texas System

Carnegie Mellon University

Alma Mater Studiorum-universitá Di Bologna

Yixuan Yu

Christine A Orme

Joshua D Kuntz

Sarah Elyse Baker

Andrew J Pascall

Brian A Korgel

Shelley L Anna

Charles Sharkey

Mirko Locritani

Paola Ceroni

Giacomo Bergamini

An electric field drives nanocrystals dispersed in solvents to assemble into ordered three-dimensional superlattices. A first electrode and a second electrodeare in the vessel. The electrodes face each other. A fluid containing charged nanocrystals fills the vessel between the electrodes. The electrodes are connected to a voltage supply which produces an electrical field between the electrodes. The nanocrystals will migrate toward one of the electrodes and accumulate on the electrode producing ordered nanocrystal accumulation that will provide a superlattice thin film, isolated superlattice islands, or coalesced superlattice islands.

Electric field driven assembly of ordered nanocrystal superlattices

An ultra low density film and an ultra low density solid material are produced by the steps of providing a vessel, introducing two immiscible fluids into the vessel, adding nanocrystals to at least one of the two immiscible fluids, applying a shear force to the two immiscible fluids and the nanocrystals in a manner that causes the nanocrystals to self-assemble and form colloidosomes. The colloidosomes amass and evaporation of the two fluids produces dried colloidosomes. The ultra low density self-assembled colloidosomes are hollow self-assembled colloidosomes, which are formed into the ultra-low density film and the ultra-low density solid.

System, method, and apparatus relating to colloidosomes

Systems comprising a nanocrystal and a luminescent chromophore are disclosed herein. The luminescent chromophore can emit energy having a first wavelength. The luminescent chromophore is configured to transfer the emitted energy having a first wavelength to the nanocrystal. The luminescent chromophore can be linked to the nanocrystal via a covalent bond. Absorption of the energy having first wavelength by the nanocrystal can activate the nanocrystal and result in an increase in quantum yield. In some embodiments, the nanocrystal can include silicon, germanium, carbon, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the luminescent chromophore can be pyrene. The luminescent chromophore and the silicon containing nanocrystal can be in a ratio of about 1:1 to 100:1 in the nanocrystal system. Methods of making and using the system are also disclosed.

Silicon quantum dot optical probes

Growing community of inventors

Livermore, CA, United States of America

Yixuan Yu