SEMICONDCUTOR NANOPARTICLE CAPPING AGENTS

• US 20090212258A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nanoco Technologies Limited (Nanoco Group Plc)
• Inventors: Cummins, Siobhan, Pickett, Nigel, McCairn, Mark C., Daniels, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/301.360
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 51/367 by introduction of functional groups containing oxygen only in singly bound form
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 59/125 Saturated compounds having only one carboxyl group and containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/3322 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/33306 acyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/33341 aromatic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/3344 containing oxygen in addition to sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/337 containing other elements organic compounds containing halogens only as halides of a carboxyl group C08G65/332

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention involve semiconductor nanoparticle capping ligands, their production and use. Ligands may have the formula

with m ranging from approximately 8 to approximately 45. An embodiment provides a method of forming a compound of the formula

including the steps of providing a first starting material comprising poly(ethyleneglycol) and reacting the first starting material with a second starting material comprising a functional group for chelating to the surface of a nanoparticle to thereby form the compound.

Claims

1. A ligand having the formula:

2. The ligand of claim 1 disposed proximate a core of a nanoparticle.

3. The ligand of claim 2, wherein the core of the nanoparticle comprises at least one semiconductor material.

4. The ligand of claim 1 disposed proximate a shell of a nanoparticle.

5. The ligand of claim 4, wherein the shell of the nanoparticle comprises at least one semiconductor material.

6. The ligand of claim 1 disposed within a solvent, the solvent further comprising at least one nanoparticle precursor material.

7. A method of forming a compound of the formula

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first starting material comprises a terminal hydroxyl group, the second starting material comprises a leaving group, and reacting the first and second starting materials comprises detaching the leaving group.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising capping at least one nanoparticle with the compound.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, and —

CH₂CO₂H.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of p-toluene sulphonate, carboxyl, —

CH₂CO₂H, -PhCO₂H, -SiPh₂^tBu, phenyl, —

CH₂Ph, thiol, amino, dithiocarbamato, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, vinyl, acetylene, aryl, and heteroaryl.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein m ranges from 8 to 45.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one nanoparticle comprises at least one semiconductor material.

10. A method for producing capped nanoparticles comprising capping at least one nanoparticle with a compound of formula

15. Nanoparticles capped with a compound of formula

16. Nanoparticles according to claim 15, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, CH₃, and —

CH₂CO₂H.

17. Nanoparticles according to claim 15, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of p-toluene sulphonate, carboxyl, —

CH₂CO₂H, -PhCO₂H, -SiPh₂^tBu, phenyl, —

CH₂Ph, thiol, amino, dithiocarbamato, phosphonic acid, phosphinic acid, vinyl, acetylene, aryl, and heteroaryl.

18. Nanoparticles according to claim 15, wherein m ranges from 8 to 45.

19. Nanoparticles according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the nanoparticles comprises at least one semiconductor material.

20. A display device comprising:

a plurality of nanoparticles, each capped with a ligand having the formula

21. The display device of claim 20, further comprising means for exciting the plurality of nanoparticles such that the nanoparticles can emit visible light.

22. The display device of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of nanoparticles comprises:

a core comprising a first semiconductor material; and

a shell comprising a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material.