Germanium and germanium alloy nanoparticle and method for producing the same
First Claim
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1. A method for producing elemental germanium or germanium alloy nanoparticles, the method comprising steps of:
- contacting a germanium or germanium alloy electrode with an etchant solution;
providing a flow of electrical current to a surface of the germanium or germanium alloy electrode through application of electrical potential between the germanium or germanium alloy electrode and another electrode;
reversing the electrical potential and repeating said step of providing;
separating the germanium or germanium alloy electrode from the etchant solution.
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Abstract
In the invention, an electrochemical etching of crystalline germanium or a germanium alloy produces well-segregated chromatic clusters of nanoparticles. Distinct strong bands appear in the photoluminescence spectra under 350 nm excitation with the lowest peaks in wavelength identified to be at 430, 480, and 580 and 680-1100 nm. The material may be dispersed into a discrete set of luminescent nanoparticles of 1-3 nm in diameter, which may be prepared into colloids and reconstituted into films, crystals, etc.
31 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for producing elemental germanium or germanium alloy nanoparticles, the method comprising steps of:
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contacting a germanium or germanium alloy electrode with an etchant solution;
providing a flow of electrical current to a surface of the germanium or germanium alloy electrode through application of electrical potential between the germanium or germanium alloy electrode and another electrode;
reversing the electrical potential and repeating said step of providing;
separating the germanium or germanium alloy electrode from the etchant solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for producing elemental germanium or germanium alloy nanoparticles, the method comprising steps of:
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contacting bulk germanium with a chemical etchant solution;
bipolar electrochemically etching the bulk germanium during said step of contacting; and
separating the germanium or germanium alloy electrode from the etchant solution. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Elemental Germanium material comprising nanoparticles dimensioned in the range of ˜
- 1-3 nm.
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28. Germanium alloy material comprising nanoparticles dimensioned in the range of ˜
- 1-3 nm.
Specification