Nanomaterial having tunable infrared absorption characteristics and associated method of manufacture
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsLarken Elizabeth Cumberland, Adam Franklin Gross, Keith John Davis, Nicole L. Abueg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A quantum nanomaterial having a bandgap that may be tuned to enable the quantum nanomaterial to detect IR radiation in selected regions including throughout the MWIR region and into the LWIR region is provided. The quantum nanomaterials may include tin telluride (SnTe) nanomaterials and/or lead tin telluride (PbxSn1-xTe) nanomaterials. Additionally, a method of manufacturing nanomaterial that is tunable for detecting IR radiation in selected regions, such as throughout the MWIR region and into the LWIR region, is also provided.
Claims10
A method of manufacturing a lead tin telluride (PbxSn1-xTe) nanomaterial in which x has a value between 0.1 and 0.6, the method comprising:
- introducing a dried lead chloride solution into a container;
- adding a tin (Sn) precursor solution and a telluride (Te) solution to the dried lead chloride solution within the container to form a mixed solution;
- and
- maintaining the mixed solution at an elevated temperature for a period of time prior to cooling to an ambient temperature to form the PbxSn1-xTe nanomaterial.
A method of manufacturing a lead tin telluride (PbxSn1-xTe) nanomaterial in which x has a value between 0.1 and 0.6, the method comprising:
- introducing lead into a container;
- adding a tin (Sn) precursor solution and a telluride (Te) solution to the lead within the container to form a mixed solution;
- maintaining the mixed solution at an elevated temperature for a period of time prior to cooling to an ambient temperature to form the PbxSn1-xTe nanomaterial;
- after maintaining the temperature of the mixed solution at the elevated temperature for the period of time and prior to cooling to the ambient temperature, repeatedly injecting additional amounts of the Sn precursor solution, the Te solution and a lead solution into the mixed solution at different points in time;
- and
- maintaining the mixed solution at an elevated temperature for a period of time following each injection of an additional amount of the Sn precursor solution, the Te solution and the lead solution into the mixed solution prior to a subsequent injection of an additional amount of the Sn precursor solution, the Te solution and the lead solution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.