Water-soluble thiol-capped nanocrystals
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsMoungi G. Bawendi, Frederick V. Mikulec, Jin-Kyu Lee
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Abstract
A water soluble semiconductor nanocrystal capable of light emission is provided, including a quantum dot having a selected band gap energy, a layer overcoating the quantum dot, the overcoating layer comprised of a material having a band gap energy greater than that of the quantum dot, and an organic outer layer, the organic layer comprising a compound having the formula, SH(CH2)nX, where X is carboxylate or sulfonate. The particle size of the nanocrystal core is in the range of about 12 Å to about 150 Å, with a deviation of less than 10% in the core. The coated nanocrystal exhibits photoluminescence having quantum yields of greater than 10% in wate.
Claims8
A water-soluble semiconductor nanocrystal capable of light emission comprising:
- a quantum dot having a selected band gap energy;
- a layer overcoating the quantum dot, wherein the overcoating layer comprises a material having a band gap energy greater than the band gap energy of the quantum dot;
- and
- an outer layer, wherein the outer layer comprises a compound having a formula, SH(CH2)nX, where X is carboxylate or sulfonate and where n≧8.
A water-soluble semiconductor noncrystal capable of light emission comprising:
- a quantum dot having a selected band gap energy;
- a layer overcoating the quantum dot, wherein the overcoating layer comprises a material having a band gap energy greater than the band gap energy of the quantum dot;
- and
- an outer layer, wherein the outer layer comprises a compound having a formula, SH(CH2)nX, where X is carboxylate or sulfonate and where n≧10.
A composition, comprising:
- a water soluble nanocrystal including a quantum dot having a band gap energy in the visible light range and at least one water-solubilizing moiety attached to the outer surface of the quantum dot, the moiety having the formula, SH(CH2)nX, where X is a hydrophilic moiety and where n≧8, the water soluble nanocrystal dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous medium.
A composition, comprising:
- a water soluble nanocrystal including a quantum dot having a band gap energy in the visible light range and at least one water-solubilizing moiety attached to the outer surface of the quantum dot, the moiety having the formula, SH(CH2)nX, where X is a hydrophilic moiety and where n≧10, the water soluble nanocrystal dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.