Preparation of nanocrystallites

• US 6,821,337 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Stott, Nathan E., Bawendi, Moungi
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOA T
• Application Number:
  US10/455,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 117/3, 117/11, 117/36, 117/75, 428/402, 428/403
• US Class Current: 117/3
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/20 Methods for preparing sulfides or polysulfides, in general ammonium sulfides or polysulfides C01C; sulfides or polysulfides of metals, other than alkali metals, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, see the relevant groups of subclasses C01F or C01G, according to the metal
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 19/007 Tellurides or selenides of metals C01B19/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/64 Nanometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/40 AIIIBV compounds wherein A is B, Al, Ga, In or Tl and B is N, P, As, Sb or Bi
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/48 AIIBVI compounds wherein A is Zn, Cd or Hg, and B is S, Se or Te
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/605 Products containing multiple oriented crystallites, e.g. columnar crystallites
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/14 the crystallising materials being formed by chemical reactions in the solution
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/005 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/0083 for devices with an active region comprising only II-VI compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 516/922 Colloid systems having specified particle size, range, or distribution, e.g. bimodal particle distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/813 Of specified inorganic semiconductor composition, e.g. periodic table group IV-VI compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/815 Group III-V based compounds, e.g. AlaGabIncNxPyAsz
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/818 III-P based compounds, e.g. AlxGayIn2P
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/819 III-As based compounds, e.g. AlxGayInzAs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/82 III-Sb based compounds, e.g. AlxGayInzSb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/822 Boron-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/823 Tl-containing or Bi-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/824 Group II-VI nonoxide compounds, e.g. CdxMnyTe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/916 : Gene therapy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 : Coated

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a nanocrystallite from a M-containing salt forms a nanocrystallite. The nanocrystallite can be a member of a population of nanocrystallites having a narrow size distribution and can include one or more semiconductor materials. Semiconducting nanocrystallites can photoluminesce and can have high emission quantum efficiencies.

Claims

1. A method of synthesizing a nanocrystal comprising combining a metal-containing non-organometallic compound, a coordinating solvent, and a chalcogen source to form a nanocrystal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating solvent includes a compound having an oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinating atom.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the compound having an oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinating atom is a 1,2-diol.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the compound having an oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinating atom is an aldehyde.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the compound having an oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinating atom is an amine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the chalcogen source includes S.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the chalcogen source includes Se.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the chalcogen source includes Te.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal-containing non-organometallic compound includes cadmium.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coordinating solvent includes a 1,2-diol, an aldehyde, or an amine.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the chalcogen source includes S, Se or Te.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the metal-containing non-organometallic compound is CdO.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal-containing non-organometallic compound includes cadmium, zinc, magnesium, mercury, aluminum, gallium, indium, or thallium.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the coordinating solvent and the compound having an oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinating atom are the same chemical.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocrystal is a member of a substantially monodisperse population of nanocrystals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the coordinating solvent includes a 1,2-diol, an aldehyde, or an amine.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a semiconductor overcoating on the nanocrystal.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating the metal-containing non-oraganometallic compound, the coordinating solvent, and the chalcogen source at a temperature sufficient to form the nanocrystal.

19. A method of manufacturing a biological labeling reagent comprising combining a metal-containing non-organometallic compound, a coordinating solvent, and a chalcogen source to form a nanocrystal.

20. A method of manufacturing an LED comprising combining a metal-containing non-organometallic compound, a coordinating solvent, and a chalcogen source to form a nanocrystal.