SBIR Phase I: New Low Cost and Large Scale Manufacturing of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

SBIR 第一阶段：半导体纳米晶体的新型低成本大规模制造

• 批准号: 1248972
• 负责人: Jacqueline Siy-Ronquillo
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Navillum Nanotechnologies, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1248972&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; New; Low; Cost

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project describes development of a manufacturing method for production of large-scale, consistently high-quality and low-cost semiconductor nanocrystals, such as quantum dots. The unique size- and shape-related properties of these materials make them useful for light emission applications (including biological labeling and displays) or for light harnessing applications (solar panels). Despite the great potential of nanocrystal-based technologies, a major barrier is the production of high-quality nanocrystals in commercially viable amounts at low cost. The proposed research activities directly address these limitations through an innovative patent-pending low-temperature wet chemical synthesis route. Compared to the conventional high-temperature synthesis route, the advantage of this method is that it can precisely control the size and shape of products - properties that are necessary for successful incorporation of these products into end-user applications. Additionally, this method circumvents scaling limitations of conventional high-temperature synthesis routes. This Phase I funding focuses on demonstrating scaled-up production of high-quality nanocrystals with consistent, predictable properties using this low-temperature synthesis method.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is that it solves several challenges currently hindering broader commercialization of semiconductor nanocrystals worldwide. If successful, nanocrystals will be produced in large quantities, inexpensively and uniformly, resulting in a disruptive advance for existing markets and emerging applications. With greater availability and affordability, nanocrystals can be more easily utilized for energy efficient lighting and displays, improve color quality in displays (laptops, tablets, cameras and mobile devices), increase efficiency of solar panels, and penetrate more widely into applications in medical research, diagnostics and treatment. Emerging applications include the use of semiconductor nanocrystals for biofuel cells, lasers, fiber optics, electronics, security and surveillance, aviation and geothermal tracers. Given the immense potential of these materials in diverse market segments, the results from this effort can catalyze broader commercialization of these materials by removing the barriers to manufacturing. This research will also give a greater insight into the basic behavior of nanocrystals and into their formation and growth, issues which are essential for the design and incorporation of these materials into specific applications.

该小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目描述了一种用于生产大规模，持续高质量和低成本半导体纳米晶体（如量子点）的制造方法的开发。这些材料独特的尺寸和形状相关特性使其可用于光发射应用（包括生物标记和显示）或光利用应用（太阳能电池板）。 尽管基于纳米晶体的技术具有巨大的潜力，但主要的障碍是以低成本以商业可行的量生产高质量的纳米晶体。 拟议的研究活动通过一种正在申请专利的创新低温湿化学合成路线直接解决了这些限制。与传统的高温合成路线相比，这种方法的优点是可以精确控制产品的尺寸和形状-这些特性是将这些产品成功纳入最终用户应用所必需的。 此外，该方法避免了传统高温合成路线的规模限制。第一阶段的资金重点是展示使用这种低温合成方法大规模生产具有一致，可预测特性的高质量纳米晶体。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于它解决了目前阻碍全球半导体纳米晶体更广泛商业化的几个挑战。 如果成功，纳米晶体将被大量、廉价和均匀地生产，从而为现有市场和新兴应用带来颠覆性的进步。随着更大的可用性和可负担性，纳米晶体可以更容易地用于节能照明和显示器，改善显示器（笔记本电脑，平板电脑，相机和移动的设备）的颜色质量，提高太阳能电池板的效率，并更广泛地渗透到医学研究，诊断和治疗的应用中。新兴的应用包括将半导体纳米晶体用于生物燃料电池、激光、光纤、电子、安全和监视、航空和地热示踪剂。 鉴于这些材料在不同细分市场中的巨大潜力，这一努力的结果可以通过消除制造障碍来促进这些材料的更广泛商业化。 这项研究还将更深入地了解纳米晶体的基本行为及其形成和生长，这些问题对于设计和将这些材料纳入特定应用至关重要。