Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles
First Claim
1. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are photoluminescent particles. The particles include a core nano-sized particle of carbon and a passivation agent bound to the surface of the nanoparticle. The passivation agent can be, for instance, a polymeric material. The passivation agent can also be derivatized for particular applications. For example, the photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles can be derivatized to recognize and bind to a target material, for instance a biologically active material, a pollutant, or a surface receptor on a tissue or cell surface, such as in a tagging or staining protocol.
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Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.
- 19. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size and comprises crystalline carbon, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.
- 31. A nanoparticle comprising a carbon core and a passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, wherein the carbon core is less than about 100 nanometers in size and comprises graphite, the carbon core defining a surface, the carbon core comprising excitation energy traps existing at the surface, wherein the carbon core surface is photoluminescent due to the presence of the passivation agent coupled to the carbon core, the passivation agent stabilizing the excitation energy traps.
Specification