Sulfur precursors for nanostructured materials
Nanostructured materials have intriguing photoluminescent properties due to their small size. These properties are tunable based on the exact size of particle used, making nanocrystals excellent candidates for LED displays, bioimaging tools, and solar cells. However, current synthetic methods to make these nanocrystals are lacking in precision; it is difficult to produce a uniform sample with crystals of low dispersity. This technology uses a sulfur-containing thiourea precursor to make cadmium sulfide and lead sulfide nanocrystals in a highly controlled manner. The use of this precursor has the potential to generate nanocrystals of a consistent size for more precise optoelectrical devices.
Sulfur precursors enable the low-cost synthesis of precise, tunable nanocrystals
The sulfur precursors used for these nanocrystals are made from inexpensive, commercially available reagents in a one-step reaction. The precursors are air-stable, making them easier to handle than some other conventional precursors. They can also be chemically modified to control the final size of the nanocrystal. Each nanocrystal sample made with this precursor has a narrow size distribution; there is no contamination from particles of the wrong size or loss of material from removing these undesired particles. The low cost and simplicity of these sulfur precursors as well as their control over the size of the resulting nanocrystals makes the precursors promising for use in industrial applications of nanocrystals.
Cadmium sulfide and lead sulfide nanocrystals that have been synthesized using this precursor are fully characterized.
Lead Inventor:
Applications:
- Nanocrystals with a narrow size distribution for precise research and development
- Nanocrystal-based LED displays
- Bioimaging tools
- Materials for solar cells
- Synthesis of core-shell nanoparticle structures
Advantages:
- Low-cost, air-stable synthesis process using readily available reagents
- Uses relatively less toxic precursors
- Easily tunable nanocrystal size for desired optoelectrical properties
- Improved yield of nanocrystals of the desired size
Patent Information:
Tech Ventures Reference: IR CU13315