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US 7,731,932 B2Granted
Methods of processing nanocrystals, and compositions, devices and systems including same
AssigneeNanosys, Inc.
InventorsErik C. Scher, Mihai A. Buretea, Jeffery A. Whiteford, Andreas P. Meisel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of processing nanocrystals to remove excess free and bound organic material and particularly surfactants used during the synthesis process, and resulting nanocrystal compositions, devices and systems that are physically, electrically and chemically integratable into an end application.
Claims47
A method of processing nanocrystals, comprising:
- providing the nanocrystals in a first solvent in which the nanocrystals are soluble, the nanocrystals having a total amount of surfactant associated therewith, the total amount of surfactant including an amount of free surfactant and an amount of nanocrystal bound surfactant;
- precipitating the nanocrystals by adding a second solvent of higher polarity to the first solvent to provide a precipitating solvent mixture in which the nanocrystals are insoluble, to provide precipitated nanocrystals;
- separating the precipitated nanocrystals from the precipitating solvent mixture;
- and
- redissolving the nanocrystals by adding a third solvent in which the nanocrystals are soluble to the precipitated nanocrystals.
2 more elements
A method of processing nanocrystals, comprising:
- a) providing the nanocrystals in a first mixture in which the nanocrystals are soluble, the first mixture comprising one or more of:
- a first solvent or a reaction mixture;
- b) precipitating the nanocrystals by adding a second solvent to the first mixture to provide a second mixture in which the nanocrystals are insoluble, to provide precipitated nanocrystals;
- c) separating the precipitated nanocrystals from the second mixture;
- d) redissolving the nanocrystals by adding at least the first solvent to the precipitated nanocrystals, to provide a third mixture;
- e) adjusting the polarity of the third mixture to provide a fourth mixture in which the nanocrystals are insoluble, to provide precipitated nanocrystals;
- f) separating the precipitated nanocrystals from the fourth mixture;
- and
- g) repeating steps d, e and/or f until, when the nanocrystals are redissolved in the first solvent, an amount of free surfactant is less than 5% an amount of total surfactant, the amount of total surfactant comprising the amount of free surfactant and an amount of nanocrystal bound surfactant.
6 more elements
A method of processing nanocrystals, comprising:
- adding a solvent mixture to the nanostructures, the solvent mixture comprising a first solvent in which the nanostructures are soluble and a second solvent in which the nanostructures are not soluble;
- precipitating the nanostructures by adding an additional quantity of the second solvent, the additional quantity being sufficient to precipitate the nanostructures from the solvent mixture;
- and
- separating the nanostructures from the solvent mixture.
1 more element
A method of processing nanocrystals, comprising:
- a) combining the nanocrystals, a first solvent in which the nanocrystals are soluble, and a second solvent in which the nanocrystals are less soluble, the nanocrystals having a total amount of surfactant associated therewith, the total amount of surfactant including an amount of free surfactant and an amount of nanocrystal bound surfactant;
- b) permitting the first and second solvents to form a first liquid phase comprising the first solvent and the nanocrystals and a second liquid phase comprising the second solvent;
- and
- c) separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.