Methods for encapsulating nanocrystals and resulting compositions

• US 20100167011A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shoei Chemical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/141
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/414 Translucent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/144 using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding constructional features for tensioning B32B38/1825
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/025 non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/56 containing sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/565 with zinc cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/623 with zinc or cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/70 containing phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/703 with zinc or cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/883 with zinc or cadmium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/081 of aluminium, magnesium or beryllium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/083 of refractory metals or yttrium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/10 Glass or silica
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/40 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/402 Silicon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/403 of aluminium, magnesium or beryllium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/405 of refractory metals or yttrium
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/45555 : applied in non-semiconductor technology
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 : Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 : Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 : Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 : Coated

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for hermetically sealing luminescent nanocrystals, as well as compositions and containers comprising hermetically sealed luminescent nanocrystals. By hermetically sealing the luminescent nanocrystals, enhanced lifetime and luminescence can be achieved.

Claims

1. A method of hermetically sealing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first substrate;

(b) disposing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals onto the first substrate;

(c) disposing a second substrate on the first substrate so as to cover the compositions of luminescent nanocrystals; and

(d) sealing the first and second substrates.

2-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method of hermetically sealing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals, the method comprising:

(a) providing a first substrate;

(b) generating one or more recesses, at least one of, in and on, the first substrate;

(c) disposing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals into the recesses;

(d) disposing a second substrate on the first substrate so as to cover the compositions of luminescent nanocrystals; and

(e) sealing the first and second substrates.

20-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A hermetically sealed composition comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals, the sealed composition prepared by a method comprising:

(a) providing a first substrate;

(b) disposing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals onto the first substrate;

(c) disposing a second substrate on the first substrate so as to cover the compositions of luminescent nanocrystals; and

(d) sealing the first and second substrates.

40. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the providing comprises providing a glass substrate.

41. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the providing comprises providing a first substrate having one or more recesses formed therein.

42. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the providing comprises providing a first substrate further comprising a third substrate having one or more recesses formed therein.

43. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of core-shell luminescent nanocrystals.

44. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 43, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of core-shell luminescent nanocrystals selected from the group consisting of CdSe/ZnS, CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS.

45. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals that are between about 1-10 nm in size.

46. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the disposing in (c) comprises disposing a glass substrate.

47. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the sealing in (d) comprises sealing with a polymeric sealant.

48. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 47, wherein the sealing in (d) comprises sealing with an epoxy sealant.

49. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, further comprising curing the luminescent nanocrystal composition prior to the sealing in (d).

50. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, further comprising disposing a barrier layer on the first and second substrates.

51. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 50, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises disposing an inorganic layer.

52. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 51, wherein the disposing the inorganic layer comprises disposing a layer of SiO₂, TiO₂ or AlO₂.

53. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 50, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises atomic layer deposition.

54. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 50, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises sputtering the barrier layer on the composition.

55. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises screen printing the plurality of luminescent nanocrystals onto the first substrate.

56. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 39, wherein the one or more hermetically sealed compositions have been separated from each other following the sealing in (d).

57. A hermetically sealed composition comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals, the sealed composition prepared by a method comprising:

(a) providing a first substrate;

(b) generating one or more recesses, at least one of, in and on, the first substrate;

(c) disposing one or more compositions comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals into the recesses;

(d) disposing a second substrate on the first substrate so as to cover the compositions of luminescent nanocrystals; and

(e) disposing a sealant to seal the first and second substrates.

58. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the providing comprises providing a glass substrate.

59. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the generating comprises etching the first substrate so as to form one or more recesses therein.

60. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the generating comprises disposing a third substrate having one or more recesses formed therein onto the first substrate.

61. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the generating comprises disposing a third substrate onto the first substrate and etching one or more recesses into the third substrate.

62. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the generating comprises disposing a third substrate onto the first substrate so as to form one or more recesses on the surface of the first substrate.

63. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the disposing in (c) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of core-shell luminescent nanocrystals.

64. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 63, wherein the disposing in (c) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of core-shell luminescent nanocrystals selected from the group consisting of CdSe/ZnS, CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS.

65. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises disposing a composition comprising a plurality of luminescent nanocrystals that are between about 1-10 nm in size.

66. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the disposing in (d) comprises disposing a glass substrate.

67. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the disposing in (e) comprises disposing a polymeric sealant.

68. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 67, wherein the disposing in (e) comprises disposing an epoxy sealant.

69. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, further comprising curing the luminescent nanocrystal composition prior to disposing the sealant in (e).

70. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, further comprising disposing a barrier layer on the first and second substrates.

71. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 70, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises disposing an inorganic layer.

72. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 71, wherein the disposing the inorganic layer comprises disposing a layer of SiO₂, TiO₂ or AlO₂.

73. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 70, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises atomic layer deposition.

74. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 70, wherein the disposing a barrier layer comprises sputtering the barrier layer on the composition.

75. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the disposing in (b) comprises screen printing the plurality of luminescent nanocrystals into the recesses.

76. The hermetically sealed composition of claim 57, wherein the one or more hermetically sealed compositions have been separated from each other following the sealing in (e).

77. A microsphere comprising:

(a) a central region;

(b) a first layer on an outer surface of the central region, the first layer comprising one or more luminescent nanocrystals; and

(c) a barrier layer on an outer surface of the first layer.

78-88. -88. (canceled)

89. A method of forming a microsphere comprising:

(a) providing a particle comprising a first inorganic material;

(b) contacting the particle with a composition comprising a precursor to a second inorganic material and one or more luminescent nanocrystals;

(c) forming a peripheral region on an outer surface of the particle, the peripheral region comprising the second inorganic material and the luminescent nanocrystals; and

(d) disposing a barrier layer on an outer surface of the peripheral region.

90-96. -96. (canceled)