Lead Inventor:
Stephen O'Brien
Metal Oxide Nanocrystals in Uniform Size for Electronics Industry:
Nanoparticles composed of metal oxides possessing special electronic properties have far reaching applications in the electronics industry, including transducers and actuators, high-k dielectric capacitors, and memory applications. The physical properties at the nanoscale can be quite different from the bulk and are known to be size dependent. Often, uniform, monodisperse and highly crystalline nanoparticles with tunable sizes and morphologies are thus desired. When available in stable dispersions, such nanoparticles can often function as building blocks for nanostructured materials that are easy to process and that have desirable mechanical properties. For example, barium titanate (BT) nanostructures have been studied widely for high-k dielectric applications.
Preparing Uniform Nanocrystals:
The invention describes methods for preparing high quality nanoparticles or stable dispersions thereof in various solvents and reports synthesis, processing, and application of thin films built from uniform and highly crystalline BT nanocrystals (5 to 100 nm in diameter) and other metal oxide nanoparticles. BT nanocrystals are obtained in a simple one-pot solvothermal approach based on the reaction between a barium titanium metalorganic source and a general alcohol. The uniform and well dispersed nano-BT building blocks in solution also show a high flexibility of incorporating to polymer hosts and integrating with micro/nanofabrication process in thin film and other applications.
Applications:
• BT nanocrystals are very well suited as a nanoscale building block for high-k dielectric films
• Can produce high-k dielectric thin films at low processing temperatures in electronics manufacturing for example for field-effect transistors, such as printed electronics and/or organic electronics; or for decoupling capacitors in advanced chip packaging applications.
• Can produce thick films for advanced capacitor technology such as for energy storage using ultracapacitors or supercapacitors in electric vehicles or uninterruptible power supplies.
• Metal oxide nanocrystals may have various applications ranging from cosmetics, pharmaceutical formulations and compositions, to coatings and paints.
Advantages:
• It is a condensed ""one-pot"" solvothermal process performed at relatively low temperature (<250 degrees C) with excellent scalability
• Particle diameter (5-100 nm) can be accurately controlled without compromising crystallinity
• Can provides individual nanoparticles with no/less aggregation
• Provides high purity particles/films with high degree of crystallinity
• Can provide stable dispersions of uncapped and uncoated nanocrystals that do not precipitate over long periods of time.
• Films can be produced at low temperatures using solution processing such as spin coating or printing techniques and providing mechanically stability.
• During synthesis, nanoparticles can be readily doped with controlled levels of impurities such as strontium.
• Surface of uncapped nanoparticles can be easily functionalized post synthesis.
Opportunities:
• Sponsored research
• Licensing
Patent Status: Patent Pending (
WO/2008/118422)