Magic size nanoclusters and methods of preparing same
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsTodd D. Krauss, Christopher Evans, Li Guo, Jeffrey J. Peterson
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are magic size nanoclusters comprising lead and one or more chalcogens. The disclosed magic size nanoclusters have both spectrally narrow fluorescence and ultra-high quantum efficiencies. Further disclosed herein is a method for preparing PbS, PbSe, and PbTe magic size nanoclusters. The yield of magic size nanoclusters can be increased by using anion sources enriched for secondary phosphines. The use of enriched secondary phosphine anion sources also increases the yield of quantum nanostructures.
Claims20
A composition comprising a plurality of magic-sized clusters (MSCs),
- wherein the cation in each MSC is Pb and the anion in each MSC is S, Se, Te or a combination thereof,
- wherein the MSCs in the composition are present as one or more distinct and monodisperse families of MSCs, such that at least 50% of the MSCs in each family have the same size which lies between 0.5 and 2.0 nm;
- and
- wherein the emission photoluminescence peak for each monodisperse family has a narrow bandwidth with a wavelength which lies between 550 and 1200 nm.
A process for preparing magic-sized clusters (MSCs), comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a Pb2+ source;
- (b) combining the Pb2+ source with an anion source selected from the group consisting of bis(trialkylsilyl) sulfide, bis(triarylsilyl) sulfide, bis(di-alkyl-mono-arylsilyl) sulfide, bis(mono-alkyl-di-arylsilyl) sulfide an organophosphine selenide, and organophosphine telluride;
- and
- (c) maintaining the combination of (a) and (b) at a temperature of from 20 to 70 ° C. for a time sufficient to form the MSCs.
A process for preparing magic-sized clusters (MSCs) and/or quantum nanostructures comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a cation source selected from the group consisting of Pb, Sn, Ge, Si, Cd, Zn, Mg, Hg, Al, Ga, In, and Tl;
- (b) providing a composition comprising an anion source, said anion source comprising a secondary phosphine compound and/or a secondary phosphine chalcogenide compound, wherein the secondary phosphine compound and/or secondary phosphine chalcogenide compound make up at least 15 percent of the total anion sources in the composition;
- (c) combining (a) and (b);
- and
- (d) maintaining (c) at a temperature and time sufficient to form the MSCs and/or quantum nanostructures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.